Leaders praise Qatar's support for humanitarian issues

Addressing the 17th Doha Forum yesterday, President of the Republic of Sudan Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir pointed out that the number of refugees in Sudan now exceeds two million, and they enjoy full rights such as the rights of the Sudanese citizens.
Sudan has enacted a law to regulate asylum since 1974, followed by similar laws in 2014 and 2015, which deal on combating human trafficking targeting these vulnerable groups, he noted.
Sudan's experience in this area was pioneering in the sense that refugees in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had a chance to rely on themselves as well as its implementation of voluntary repatriation program or resettlement in other countries.
President Al Bashir noted that the state of Qatar is at the forefront of countries providing assistance to his country to deal with refugees issues, praising the leading role of Qatar in achieving peace and stability in Darfur through the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.
Sudanese President hailed the issues of security and stability tabled on the Forum's agenda and to find intellectual and scientific solutions, pointing out that the Forum puts the participants during this session in front of great challenges, especially that the subject of the session touches humanitarian, moral, political, economic and social aspects.
Qatar’s great role in support of humanitarian issues in general, and the refugees issues in particular, at regional and international levels has been hailed by President of the Republic of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keita speaking at the opening session of Forum held under the theme "Development, Stability and Refugee Crisis"
President Keita also highlighted the relentless efforts exerted by the State of Qatar to resolve many humanitarian crises in various parts of the world, noting that refugees issues in unstable areas have resulted in many crises and tragedies such as poverty, hunger, insecurity and instability of host countries, in addition to security threats faced by refugees themselves which requires humanitarian protection. The President praised the firm commitment of many countries, particularly the State of Qatar, to support his country and to the promotion of peace efforts.
The President of Mali said terrorism must be eradicated by intensifying international efforts, represents a major challenge to the world and constitutes a threat to his country which is committed to combat terrorism. He noted his country’s cooperation with neighboring countries in countering terrorism through the formation of a joint force with Mauritania and Chad, affirming the need for a comprehensive international support in order to succeed these efforts in combating terrorism and achieve peace and security in the world.
Prime Minister of the Lebanese Republic Saad Al Hariri said the most important thing that our Arab region needs today is stability, which must be the primary goal for all of us.
The extremist groups are trying to destabilize the whole world and they must be confronted through the cooperation of all countries, societies, religions and cultures, he added.
The economic development of Lebanon is facing a special difficulty as the country is hosting a half million displaced Syrians and half a million Palestinian refugee, he explained.
Hariri thanked the State of Qatar, HH the Emir, the Government and people of Qatar for their continuous support of the rightful causes and for standing by Lebanon in good and difficult times.
Addressing the opening session of Doha Forum, Hariri said this forum is proving its importance year after year in discussing the most urgent political, economic and social issues in the region and the world.
Lebanon counts on the international and Arab support to finance the investment program in the infrastructure and the public services.
Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Ali Khayre said more than 1 million Somalis are displaced persons and a large number of them are refugees in neighboring countries, he said, noting that Somalia is among the refugee hosting countries, especially from Yemen.
Khayre called on all friends from the Arab and GCC countries to help Somalia fighting causes for forced displacement and its negative impacts on stability and growth.
Addressing the plenary session Khayre outlined that the crises facing his country directly affected the issues of asylum and forced displacement, which has become a major problem for both Somalia or neighboring countries, thanking all countries hosting Somali displaced and refugees.