Country: Qatar



Event: Pearl-MUN 2002

Student:
Alaa Al Farra




Links to other sites on the Web:


Back to the 2001-2002 Team page
Back to the 2002 Pearl-MUN page
Back to the Briefing Book Library
Back to Teams
Back to Fruit Home

Qatar




The Qatari National Anthem








Country Profile


 

Political Structure: -

Qatar has a monarchy. The ruling family, the Al Thani, comprises up to 40 per cent of the native population. Under the terms of a 1970 provisional constitution, executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (Cabinet). The council is appointed by the head of state, the emir, who is also to be called the prime minister. The prime minister in Qatar has the real power he’s the one that organize Qatar from inside and also outside relation ships. Qatar has no legislative body, although the constitution guarantees to all citizens the basic democratic rights. Secular courts have criminal and civil jurisdiction; courts administering Islamic Shari’ah law have limited jurisdiction. The Wastah has an value and importance especially with the ruling family, Al- Thani. According to jobs, rights and it also comes to sale prices if you want to buy anything.

 

Natural Resources: -

Petroleum and natural gas and fish, although limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities are the three essential natural resources of Qatar; the North Dome Field is the world’s largest-known natural gas field not associated with petroleum. Qatar sells its gas to most countries of Europe and the United States.

 

Cultural Factors: -

The native population of Qatar consists almost entirely of Bedouin Arabs whose ancestors migrated from the Arabian Peninsula and they enjoy full citizenship rights. There are also large numbers of migrant laborers from neighboring Arab states, as well as Pakistanis, Iranians, and other expatriate workers; together these groups make up 80 per cent of the population and 90 per cent of the labor force. Qatar has a population of 723,542 (July 1999) with a population density of 51 people per sq. km. Population growth rate is 3.62% (1999). Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%.

95% of Qatar’s population is Muslims, so it is considered as an Islamic country. Most native Qataris are Sunni adherents of the Wahhabi sect of Islam. However, Qatar is noticeably less strict in its interpretation of doctrinal requirements than its Wahhabi neighbor Saudi Arabia. According to languages they use Arabic as an official language and English commonly as a second language.

 

Defense: -

Military expenditure accounts for roughly a quarter of Qatar’s state budget. In the early 1990s Qatar’s armed forces included an army of 8,500 personnel, a navy of 1,800, and an air force of 800. An agreement with the United States permits US access to bases. During the 1991 Gulf War its troops and air force were part of the 28-nation allied forces ranged against Iraq. Qatar’s prime minister made very good relation ships with the United states so if Qatar is under an innovation like the one that happened to Kuwait for sure The United States would be the one that they would rely on to help them. Qatar’s forces are both Arab and mercenary from the United States.

 

Geography: -

Qatar is an independent state in the Middle East, one of the Persian Gulf States, occupying the Qatar Peninsula, jutting into the Persian Gulf from the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. On its southern side it is bordered by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; these boundaries are not demarcated. Qatar was just a small island when it started its area was worthless, plus that there was nobody living there except poor people that had something to do.

But then it started to get bigger and its boundaries started it get wider until now it has an area of about 11,437 sq. km. And soon it was fighting Bahrain for an other two small islands. Area of land is 11,437 sq. km and last but not least the area of water is 0 sq. km. Irrigated land: 80 sq. km Land boundaries: total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km. The capital and leading port is Doha. Climate: an extremely hot, arid climate prevails, ranging from an average of 16.7° C (62° F) in January to about 36.7° C (98° F) in July. Humidity is high during the summer (May to October), but the average annual rainfall is less than 127 mm (5 in). Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel. Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, and sandstorms in common.

 

Economy: -

Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 70% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important.

Long-term goals feature the development of offshore petroleum and the diversification of the economy. Lower world oil prices brought GDP down in 1998. GDP: purchasing power parity—$12 billion (1998 est.) GDP—real growth rate: -3% (1998 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$17,100 (1998 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 49% services: 50% (1996 est.) Budget: revenues: $3.4 billion expenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1995)

Electricity—production: 5.2 billion kWh (1996) Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0%. Agriculture—products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish. Exports: $5.6 billion, commodities: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel, partners: Japan 49%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 12%, Thailand 4%, US 3% (1997), Imports: $4.4 billion. Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1—3.6400 riyals (fixed rate). Qatar is an Islamic country and of course no money were shuffled around and it is all in debt.

 

Views on World’s problem: -

Qatar supported Iraq throughout the Iran-Iraq War, but during the 1991 Gulf War its troops and air force were part of the 28-nation allied forces ranged against Iraq, and were especially noted for their contributions in the air and on the ground, particularly during the retaking of the town of Al-Khafji. Border clashes with Saudi Arabia in September 1992 soured the normally close relations between the two states until this moment; a border agreement was reached in May 1993. Hearings at the International Court of Justice on ownership of the Hawâr Islands in 1994 and 1995 failed to resolve the issue, with Bahrain refusing to recognize the proceedings. Qatar maintains friendly relations with the West, and has agreed to supply Israel with liquefied natural gas. Qatar was fighting with Bahrain for a 10 km2 lands and the problem was just solved a few months ago.

Qatar has a maverick position on many issues including Israel which is different than all Arab countries. It imports things from their, plus that the prime minister made good relations with the United States. And in the same time it organizes meeting to discuss the peace process in the middle east. Qatar has also put air tapes with Bin Laden on their channel more than once. Qatar thinks that Bin Laden is a powerful and a strong character the supports and helps the peace process after Palestine get its liberty.

Qatar’s friend are The United States, and all of the Gulf countries except Saudi Arabia, and also some good relations with Iraq and Countries in Europe.

 

History: -

Qatar has been settled since the Stone Age, the first known inhabitants being Canaanite tribes. The country was later subject to various rulers, including Sargon of Akkad (reigned c. 2335-2279 BC), and it was most likely connected with the federation of Dilmun in the 1st millennium BC. Islam swept the peninsula in the 7th century, and Qatar became a part, successively, of the Arab caliphate and the Ottoman Empire.

After the migration to Qatar of the Al Khalifa family from Kuwait in 1766, Iran invaded the peninsula 1783, but was thrown back. The Al Khalifah moved to Bahrain Island, where they became the ruling family, but Qatar rebelled against their rule in 1867.

Assisted by Abu ’s ruler, the Al Khalifah routed the Qataris and razed the city of Doha. The British then interceded to reduce piracy in the region, and installed the leading Al Thani family as Qatar’s rulers. Their rule was at the sufferance of the Ottoman Turks, but Ottoman attempts to station troops in Qatar from 1871 led to a successful uprising in 1893. In 1916 Qatar became a British protectorate but continued to be ruled as an absolute monarchy by the Al Thanis. Qatar was proclaimed independent when the British left the Gulf area in 1971, and it then joined the UN. Initially planning to join the federation of the United Arab Emirates, it eventually decided for separate independence. In 1972 the reigning emir, Ahmad bin Ali al-Thani, was deposed by his cousin Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, who attempted to modernize the country by introducing new industries such as steel-processing and fertilizer production.

The discovery of oil in Qatar in 1939, and its commercial exportation which began in 1949, were turning points in Qatar's development, heralding a new era of accelerated progress in a wide range of fields, including administration, infrastructure and the economy, together with associated improvements in the social and cultural arenas. Realizing that Qatar is part of the GCC, so all the countries will have pretty similar facts and factors. On one hand this might be good for making a one organization that has things in common so it would be stronger. On the other hand it might be bad for one reason which is that each country doesn’t like the other countries to have things in common.

 

 

 

 

Policy Statements

 

The question of preventing international terrorism: -

The Emir praised ties between the two countries as distinguished, especially in the military domain, saying the continuation of the joint military exercises bears witness to this. Replying to a question about Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel, the Emir said: We are getting prepared for a parliamentary life after two years, and the Al-Jazeera issue will be completely over by then as parliamentary life especially requires freedom for a credible media and this is what we are trying to do in Qatar.

The Prince of Qatar, Sheikh Hamid bin Khalifa the Second, called for the necessity of differentiating between resistance to occupation and terrorism, while refusing the commingling of terrorism and Islam. Speaking at the opening session of Qatar's legislative council, the Emir said, "Our country, as an Arab and Islamic nation, has a basic obligation to differentiate between terrorism as a criminal phenomenon and the right of peoples suffering under the yoke of military occupation to free their homelands." The Emir also declared that Arab and Islamic nations "were finding themselves in the same situation of defending against suspicious efforts to classify them as supporting terrorists." Observers said that the emir of Qatar made this comment in light of Washington's efforts to put organizations hostile to Israel, such as Hezbullah in Lebanon, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, or the Popular Front Liberation of Palestine, at the top of the list of terrorist organizations in the wake of the September 11 attacks against America. The Emir also expressed his hopes that Arab and Islamic countries adopt serious steps "to refute these unjust accusations of terrorism that have been said about Islam and instead emphasize the true picture of it and its role in human civilization." Al Jazeera T.V. is supporting Bin Laden that’s why they had an interview with him to make clarify and explain his and Taliban’s view. But one thing is that Al- Jazeera is contradicting itself because it is part of Qatar, and Qatar’s goal is to emphasize the picture of Islam that was defaced by Bin Laden for what he had done in the United States.

In other words supports Bin Laden not only for he is an Muslim guy but for his point of view as well. So they support him and help him get his point of view to people about Americans.

 

The question of Palestine and the peace process in the Middle East: -

The fighting between Israelis and Palestinians has an effect on the whole region. There is a risk of public disturbance throughout the area, in response to events in the Occupied Territories. Travelers need to be ware of this risk, and alert to news reports, which might trigger such disturbances. The situation in Qatar is calm but visitors should note that any increase in tension in the region might affect travel advice. There is no specific threat of violence.

Qatar URGED the UN to press Israel firmly to pull out of Orient House, the unofficial headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) occupied and closed by Israel last week. Qatar, which currently holds the presidency of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), urged the UN to put pressure on Israel to "pull out immediately" from Orient House. Qatar always tried to solve he problem by hosting symposium, meetings and discussions.

Qatar has a maverick position on many issues, including this one. Qatar voted for the peace process in the middle east. And she also held and organized many meeting and organizations to solve this problems without any negative results. And on the other hand it still import things from Israel plus that the prime minister has good relation ships with the United Stated. But she mainly votes and supports the solution of Israel being out of Palestine.

 

Ensuring the rights of minorities within the country: -

Other ethnic minorities include Pakistanis who account for 18%, Indians for 18% and Iranians for 16%, so all of them count as 60% of the whole population. Minorities in Qatar earn less salary that a normal Qatari would do! Qatari employers/sponsors have customarily held on to the passports of their foreign (i.e., non-Qatari) employees during the terms of their employment in Qatar. Foreign nationals, including US. citizens, may not leave Qatar without the permission in the form of exit visas from their employer/sponsor. No new born babies are to have the Qatari citizenship. Qatar supports the opinion that says that the priority is to Qataris according to jobs even if foreigners are better. Qatar does not only refer to the non- Qataris as foreign citizens but as minorities as well. The UN is suggesting a policy that indicates that all new born babies in Qatar should have Qatari citizenship, and have their full rights.

 

The question of drug usage, trafficking, and rehabilitation programs: -

Damascus - Under the auspices of Interior Minister Mohammad Harba, the information committee for combating drugs at the ministry recently held a national symposium on the occasion of International Day for Combating Drugs. Deputy Interior Minister, Walid Taha, represented Mr. Harba. Present at the symposium were a number of officials from the interior ministry, representatives of international and Arab organizations in Damascus, representatives of ministries, peoples organizations and vocational trade unions and concerned bodies. Most people that deal with drugs inside Qatar are foreigners. So now Qatar is trying to take care and convince the UN to check everything before it enters the country to eliminate of drug dealing inside it. Sea, land and air border of Qatar should be secured, and the rules of trafficking should be more strict.

 

 

 

Resolution

Defining Palestine: - A historical region of southwest Asia at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea and roughly coextensive with modern Israel and the West Bank,

Recalling: - the sentence 242 given by the UN and I quote " NO country should invade another country by force, and Israel should return all the lands that were taken during war 1967,

Noting with deep regret: Israel disobeyed the previous UN rule and kept using force to seizure other pieces of lands, plus it returned nothing to Palestine,

Recognizing: - the number of people that are killed and exiled and tortured for they fighting to get their rights,

Aware of: - Palestine is one of the Arab and Islamic countries and we should all stand beside it during its destruction,

Believing: - The land of Palestine should return back to its people and they should have their full rights,

Taking into Account: - 425 - 3500 people were killed in Sabra wa Shateela during only one day according to the UN website.

Taking into Consideration: - That we as countries should take an action in which it indicates that Palestine is part of the Arab and Islamic land,

 

1. Resolves: - the formation of the UNFOAI ( The United Nations force organization against Israel, and this organization will be responsible for all the countries’ relations with Israel and all the things mentioned;

2. Further Invites: - All the countries that supports the issue and wants a peace process in the middle east to take their position in this organization, and donate what they can from money, food and emergency thing needed in Palestine;

3. Encourages: - the US. to participate in this organization due to the its neutral situation between Israel and Palestine;

4. Declares: - That this organization’s location would be in a powerful country that calls for peace and that is fair and it would also take the place of the leader since it should have good relations with all countries which is Norway since they negotiated (Oslo) there;

5. Confers: - That the sum of all the countries that calls for peace and stopping the war with Palestine being a country again, should come to be one hand at the end of this organization, to face problems in the future and to face the current problem of Palestine;

6. Requests: - All Arab countries to participate in this organization and act as an essential part of it solving one of the most important problems in the middle east;

7. Further Resolves: - All the countries will get together and afford army and get the power and force to face this problem and by taking an action that satisfies both sides of the argument.

A) This organizations will be formed in Norway under the UN’s control,

B) America will be fair in distributing the weapons and give Palestine a share,

C) The most powerful country that is heard from both sides which is the United States will suggest resolutions that has been agreed upon by the UN, and would be respected from both sides.,

D) All Arabs will offer as much as possible food, medications and money for them to offer weapons to fight and regain their land.

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Speech: -

Al- Salam Alykuim. Ladies and gentlemen. Good morning/afternoon/evening. Qatar would like to welcome all the honorable delegates present today. A warm welcome to you all from the land of oil.

Qatar is here today to discuss and clarify its view according to a very important issue in the middle east, which is the issue of Palestine. The fighting between Israelis and Palestinians has an effect on the whole region Qatar has a maverick (Stands alone) position on many issues, including this one. Qatar votes for the peace process in the middle east. And had also held and organized many meetings and organizations to solve this problem without any positive results.

Thank you.