Doha / Information Office / December 18

Qatar's embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions abroad continued its National Day celebrations, which takes place on December 18 of every year, in commemoration of the state's founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani, under the theme "Promise of Prosperity and Glory".

In Chisinau of Moldova, HE Qatar's Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Mohammed bin Ali Al Malki held a reception for the National Day occasion.

The reception was attended by a number of officials from the government, members of parliament, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited to Moldova, as well as public figures from different fields.

In Georgia, HE Qatar's Ambassador to Georgia Mubarak bin Nasser Al Khalifa, held in Tbilisi a reception celebrating the National Day. The reception was attended by a number of Their Excellencies the ministers, dignitaries, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, intellects, businessmen and public figures.

The Qatari embassy in Tehran organized a reception to celebrate the National Day held by HE Qatar's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali bin Hamad Al Sulaiti. The reception was attended by a number of senior officials, heads and representatives of accredited diplomatic missions in Tehran, businessmen, media, tourism and trade personnel.

In addition, HE Qatar's Ambassador to Australia Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa held a reception in Canberra to celebrate the National Day.

The reception was attended by HE Chief Minister of Canberra Territory Andrew Barr, HE Chief of Protocol at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs Lyndall Sachs, a number of Australian officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, public missions and heads of the Arab and Islamic community in Australia.

Speaking at the event, HE the Ambassador spoke about the unjust siege imposed on the State of Qatar by some neighboring countries and confirmed that Qatar is a State of independent decision. His Excellency thanked all those who contributed to enriching and supporting the Qatari-Australian relations and expressed his aspiration for more fruitful cooperation between the two countries in all fields.

In Stockholm, HE Qatar's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden Hamad bin Mohammed Al Khalifa held a reception to celebrate the National Day. The reception was attended by a number of officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, public figures, members of the Qatari embassy and Qatari citizens in Sweden. 

In Rabat, HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Kingdom of Morocco, Abdulla bin Falah Al Dosari, held a reception on the occasion of the State of Qatar's National Day.

The celebration was attended by the delegation of Qatar's Advisory Council headed by HE Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud.

HE Prime Minister of Morocca Saadeddine Othmani also attended the ceremony along with HE Minister of Economy and Finance, Mohamed Boussaid; HE Minister of Labor and Professional Integration, Mohamed Yatim; HE Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of General Affairs and Governance, Lahcen Daoudi; HE Secretary of State to the Minister of Industry and Investment, Trade and Digital Economy in Charge of Foreign Trade, Rokaya Dirham; HE former Minister of Culture, Bensalem Himmich; HM King's Secretary, HE Mohamed Al-Akhdaf Maa Al-Aynain; HE Governor of the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra Region and Rabat Labor Force Mohamed Mhidia; HE Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Anas Khalis; HE Director of the Mashreq and Gulf Directorate, Arab and Islamic organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Fouad Akhreif; a number of dignitaries in the Kingdom of Morocco; heads and representatives of diplomatic missions; and Qatari students in the Kingdom of Morocco.

In Vienna, HE Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani, the State of Qatar's ambassador to the Republic of Austria and permanent representative to the United Nations in Vienna, held a reception on the occasion of the National Day.

The ceremony was attended by HE former President of the Austrian Republic, Heinz Fischer; HE head of the protocol department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; HE former Minister of Defense, Herbert Scheibner; HE Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Lassina Zerbo; HE Director of the Economic Crime Office at the United Nations at Vienna, Dimitri Vlassis; HE Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Aldo Malavasi; HE Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo; HE Director General of OPEC Fund for International Development, Suleiman Jasir Al Herbish; heads and representatives of diplomatic missions; head of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab League delegations; and senior officials of the Austrian government and United Nations organizations in Vienna.

HE Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani stressed that the National Day is an important occasion to affirm the people's cohesion with its leadership and glorification of the founder who devoted his efforts and ideas to the establishment of modern Qatar, which has now become a modern state.

HE expressed his satisfaction at the excellent relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Austria and his aspiration to promote bilateral relations to better levels in the future, especially in the economic and cultural fields. 

HE the State of Qatar's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Swaziland Yousef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud held a reception ceremony on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar.

A royal family representative of the king of Swaziland attended the ceremony along with Deputy Prime Minister Paul Dlamini; Minister of Economic Planning and Development HRH Prince Hlangusemphi; the elder sister of King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Swaziland; a number of princes, princesses and members of parliament; heads and representatives of diplomatic missions; public dignitaries; and Arab expats living in the Kingdom of Swaziland.

In a speech given during the ceremony by the royal family representative on behalf of King Mswati III, he congratulated the State of Qatar on the National Day and expressed the king's regret and sadness over the siege imposed on the State of Qatar since June 5. He wished that there would be a peaceful settlement that ends the crisis and lifts the siege so that the State of Qatar would continue its economic development on all fronts.

HE Al Mahmoud reaffirmed in his speech the development and progress of bilateral relations and mutual cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Swaziland in the different fields. He added that the State of Qatar supports the efforts of King Mswati III and the government of the Kingdom of Swaziland to reach the status of the first world as well as human development projects. HE the ambassador wished success to the kingdom of Swaziland as it prepares for hosting the African summit in 2020.

On the sidelines of the event, the embassy organized a photography exhibition on the comprehensive renaissance in the State of Qatar.

Meanwhile, the State of Qatar's Charge d'Affaires to the Republic of Portugal, Hassan Mohammed Al Humaidi, hosted a reception ceremony in Lisbon on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar.

Nearly 300 senior officials from the presidency and ministries of foreign affairs, interior and defense attended the event along with businessmen, media personalities, dignitaries and heads and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to Portugal.

In New York, HE Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, the State of Qatar's permanent representative to the United Nations, organized a reception ceremony on the occasion of the National Day.

A number of senior U.N. officials attended the event, including HE U.N. Secretary General's Chef de Cabinet, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti; HE U.N. Undersecretary General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman; HE Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock; HE Undersecretary General for General Assembly and Conference Management, Catherine Pollard; and HE U.N. Alliance of Civilizations High Representative Nassir Abdulaziz Al Nasser.

The permanent representatives of U.N. member states attended the ceremony along with representatives of consular missions in New York, a large number of diplomatic corps members and staff of U.S., international and Arab media accredited to New York and the United Nations.

Additionally, a number of civil society representatives attended the event as well as representatives of Arab and Muslim expat communities in New York.