New York / Information Office / October 13
The State of Qatar stressed the importance of building a multilateral, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trade system that contributes to sustainable development, inclusive growth and employment opportunities around the world.
This came in the speech of the State of Qatar delivered by member of the delegation of the State of Qatar participating in the work of the 73rd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations Mansour Abdullah Al Mahmoud, before the Second Committee of the General Assembly. Today's meeting was discussing macroeconomic policies.
Al Mahmoud commended the important role played by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and its relentless efforts to address trade and development issues, which hosted the thirteenth session of the State of Qatar in 2012.
He pointed out that the current economic crises, high unemployment rates and the debt burden of the world in a global economic environment of uncertainty and volatility require the international community to intensify efforts to reach common visions that promote global economies, especially in developing and least developed countries. He added that it is through these efforts that the aspirations of all the peoples of the world in a dignified life will be met.
Al Mahmoud noted that international trade is an important enabling tool for economic development, stimulating overall economic growth, creating employment opportunities and reducing poverty, and thus contributing to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
He stressed the importance of the United Nations Secretary-General's report on international trade and development, as the tangible progress in the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization helped revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
The member of the delegation of the State of Qatar to the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly noted that the Addis Ababa Action Agenda forms an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and stresses the firm commitment of the international community to address funding challenges and create an enabling environment at all levels for sustainable development. He noted that the successful implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda depends mainly on the mobilization of resources at the national and international levels and the effective use of those resources, contributing to the eradication of poverty and the achievement of sustainable development in all its three dimensions.
He then highlighted Qatar's firm commitment to respecting human rights, including the right to development. He pointed out that Qatar, in line with its commitments to addressing the challenges of financing for development in a spirit of global partnership and solidarity, hosted in November 2017 in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs a high-level meeting to prepare for the Economic and Social Council Forum that followed up on this year's financing for development. He stressed that Qatar's hosting of these meetings by the State of Qatar comes within the framework of its constant commitment to work at the global level in a spirit of cooperation to meet the common challenges, especially in the field of sustainable development.
He stressed that Qatar's emphasis remains on the importance of multilateral systems in the area of trade and financing for development, and noted that putting pressure on states for political gains contradicts with the Charter of the United Nations which calls for the establishment of a multilateral trade system. He said that such behavior has negative effects on international economic cooperation, and on human rights.
He stressed that the State of Qatar is exerting great effort to mitigate the consequences of unilateral measures taken against it, in order to help its resilient economy continue its path of sustainable growth.