The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Pretoria would like to provide the following update concerning the repatriation programme of stranded South Africans abroad and Stranded foreigners in South Africa, conducted by Qatar Airways relif charter flights, in coordination with the relevant authorities in Doha, the Embassy of the state of Qatar in Pretoria, DIRCO and the Department of Transportation in South Africa. - The programme successfully resulted in the repatriation of 1368 South African nationals and the return of 2074 foreigners to their respective countries, through 14 inbound and outbound flights between Doha and Johannesburg. Last conducted inbound and outbound flights took place on the 2nd of June 2020. - This program demonstrates the needed solidarity and international cooperation in order to respond to the corona pandemic, COVID-19 and it represents an example of the excellent bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of South Africa, and all friendly states. - During the month of July, 2 inbound and outbound flights were conducted on Friday 10/7 and 2 similar sectors are scheduled for Saturday 18/7.

• All passengers to register on the below portal Qatar Airways (QR) registration portal for approval before booking for the flights https://www.qatarairways.com/en-za/passenger-registration.html • After the registartion, QR office in JHB will send a final list to the Embassy of Qatar in Pretoria to transit to NATJOINT committee for the flight approval and passenger list approval • After flight approval by the NATJOINT committee, a booking link will be shared to the registered and approved passengers to book for their flights and reservations will be closed 24hrs prior to the departure of the flight • All passengers must meet at one Assembly Point only, i.e. Embassy of the State of Qatar, 1077 Justice Mahomed Street, Waterkloof, Pretoria, and are expected to arrive four (4) hours prior to departure for the airport • Passengers that intend to proceed to O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) will not be allowed to board the plane • QR will provide transportation to ORTIA which is equipped with toilets • QR staff will be at the Assembly Point location to assist in boarding of passengers on the bus • Repatriation transportation (bus) will be at the Assembly Point three (3) hours prior to flight departure • Passengers will not be allowed on board the bus without any protective personal equipment, i.e masks and gloves • Schedule of Departure of transportation to the airport: o 15h00 – all passengers must be gathered at the Embassy o 16h00 – depart Embassy for ORTIA o 17h00 – arrival and check-in for departure flight o 19h15 – flight departure • Passengers must have all the required documentations, i.e. valid passport, valid visa/resident permit, laissez-passer, in order to be allowed to board the bus • All Passenger will be transported to ORTIA with social distancing regulations adhered to as per the government guidelines • Repatriation flights are only applicable to foreign nationals in countries serviced by Qatar Airways. • South Africans with permanent residence/dual citizenship/work permit to their respective destinations must have approval from the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa

Doha, July 01 (QNA) - The State of Qatar participated Wednesday in the ministerial conference to launch of a global declaration on the digital response to the Coronavirus pandemic, entitled "Bridging the Digital Divides: The Digital Response to Corona virus Pandemic" The State of Qatar was represented by HE State Minister for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi. His Excellency expressed, in the State of Qatar's speech to the conference, the support of the country for the Global Declaration on the Digital Response to corona virus Pandemic that is being launched today. "While the consequences of corona virus pandemic affects all aspects of our lives, finding ways that ensure the continuation of education for more than 90 percent of the students affected by school closure due to this pandemic constitutes one of the most critical challenges at present. No doubt that the Global Declaration, which we are launching today constitutes an important foundation for facing the challenges imposed by this global pandemic," His Excellency said. "Protecting and enhancing the right to education comes foremost in the priorities of the State of Qatars policy. Concerned institutions were able to utilize technology in developing education and keeping pace with the international developments. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education of the State of Qatar has established a distance education and learning mechanism and activated electronic platforms for all students to deal with these exceptional conditions imposed by the pandemic," His Excellency added. His Excellency noted that the state of Qatar continues its efforts to find suitable solutions to enhance its capacity to adapt to crises and ensure the availability of effective and uninterrupted government services while maintaining social distancing by using electronic platforms.

Doha, June 30 (QNA) - Upon the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamimbin Hamad Al-Thani, HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani announced a new pledge of the State of Qatar to provide USD 100 million to alleviate the human suffering of by the Syrian people. In a speech at Brussels IV Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, held via video conferencing, HE the Foreign Minister underscored that the new pledge comes from the firm belief of the State of Qatar to fulfill its international and humanitarian obligation towards the brotherly Syrian people, pointing out that the actual State of Qatar's assistance to the brotherly Syrian people has exceeded USD 2 billion. The State of Qatar - in compliance with its humanitarian and moral responsibilities - has spared no effort, since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, to enhance the rapid humanitarian response and provide effective assistance to the brotherly Syrian people, he said. HE the Foreign Minister affirmed the steadfast support of the State of Qatar to the international efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis based on first Geneva Declaration of 2012 and the relevant Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution No. 2254, and in a way that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people in security, stability, and the preservation of its territorial integrity. At the beginning of his speech, HE Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani thanked the European Union and the United Nations for the invitation to hold this conference and praised the participating countries for their estimated efforts to support the brotherly Syrian people despite the economic difficulties faced by all countries due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He added that the world is facing a humanitarian crisis that humanity has not known before, during which the Syrian people were deprived of the most basic necessities of living such as water, food, infrastructure, and basic social services such as education and health, in addition to the number of displaced people, that reached 12 million people. HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the success in facing of the catastrophic and grave humanitarian repercussions of the Syrian crisis will only come through finding a political solution that radically ends this crisis, and this is the responsibility of the international community, especially the Security Council and the actors concerned. HE the Foreign Minister asked, what kind of generation do we expect to result from the Syrian war as the children of Syria have grown up watching the pictures of artillery, bombings, and massacres with internationally prohibited weapons that have often affected their cities, villages, and families? The time has come for the international community to work hard to stop the killing machine of the Syrian regime and put an end to its increasing violence, which is no difference between it and violent extremism and terrorism, which reinforce each other and converge in existence, goal, and outcome, HE the Minister explained. At the end of his speech, HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated thanks and appreciation to all countries that have pledged and fulfilled their obligations towards the Syrian people and valued the efforts of the United Nations and the European Union to organize this conference, expressing the hope that the desired results will be achieved.

Doha, June 23 (QNA) - The State of Qatar participated in the work of the extraordinary virtual conference to announce the pledges of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi represented the State of Qatar during the conference held on Tuesday via video conferencing. In a speech before the conference, HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi stressed that the State of Qatar will continue to provide support to UNRWA within the framework of enabling it to carry out its mandate, adding that the State of Qatar has been and remains at the forefront of the countries supporting it, as it has provided through the Qatar Fund For Development more than USD100 million since 2015. He explained that the support provided by the State of Qatar to UNRWA in 2020, which was announced in 2019, amounts to a total of USD11.2 million, according to the agreement signed in Dec. 2019 on the sidelines of the Doha Forum between the State of Qatar and UNRWA, along with an amount of USD1.5 million provided by the Education Above All foundation in the State of Qatar to support of the Palestinian government represented by the Ministry of Education to ensure the right to education for Palestinian children. HE Al Muraikhi underscored that the State of Qatar will remain at the forefront of the effective countries to enhance UNRWA's ability to continue to perform its mandate and carry out its activities effectively in line with its principles and firm commitment in supporting the brotherly Palestinian people. He said that the State of Qatar is today the first in the Arab world in providing support to UNRWA's core resources for 2019-2020. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs stated that this conference is taking place in light of the increasing financial crisis facing the UNRWA and the additional burden imposed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on its work. He reiterated the support of the State of Qatar for the efforts of the new Commissioner-General of UNRWA and thanked HE the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, for his efforts to mobilize support for the Agency. His Excellency also thanked the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Sweden for organizing this conference.

27 June 2020 In a statement issued by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) on 23 June 2020, Saudi Arabia makes a number of blatantly false assertions about the findings of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Panel Report concerning the dispute Saudi Arabia – Measures concerning the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (DS567) These false assertions are regrettably part of an orchestrated attempt by Saudi Arabia to spread disinformation and obscure the truth about the WTO Panel’s findings. Yet again, Saudi Arabia has reverted to tactics of deception and deceit tactics, rather than taking the necessary corrective action to combat intellectual property theft. Fortunately, the Report, which includes a clear statement of the Panel’s conclusions, is publicly available for all to see: Saudi Arabia failed to protect intellectual property rights and their deficiencies must be remedied. In a statement, Saudi Arabia makes a commitment to “do its part” to stop copyright piracy. If true, Saudi Arabia should accept the WTO Panel Report and take immediate remedial action. Regrettably, Saudi Arabia’s statement suggests that it has not yet drawn the necessary lessons from the Panel’s devastating findings and will follow similar steps to what beoutQ has done in the past.

Doha / Information Office / June 27 HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani announced Saturday that the State of Qatar pledged $10 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the finding of testing equipment, treatment, and vaccine for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), in addition to its $20 million contribution to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). His Excellency said, during his participation in a COVID-19 commitments campaign held through video conference by non-profit organization Global Citizen, that the State of Qatar was proud to support 'Global Goal: Unite for Our Future' campaign. His Excellency expressed the State of Qatar's thanks to the European Commission and to Global Citizen for partnering on the campaign. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the novel Coronavirus pandemic was not just testing the healthcare systems, educational systems, and economies around the world, but also testing human principles and the ability to respond quickly by show solidarity across borders. His Excellency added that the scaling up of international support and political commitment was needed now, more than ever, to ensure access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines for all.

Dear friends across the world, As we celebrate the completion of Education City Stadium, the third venue for the World Cup 2022, we greet the champions of these times: the medical staff and all the staff of the teams working on the frontline against the Covid-19 pandemic who have saved the lives of many people and brought back hope to them. We thank you and we support you. As the world begins to open up, it is through your courage, dedication and sincerity that we truly believe in better days to come, the days when we will enjoy together watching the stars of the game in our stadiums. Qatar is looking forward, and more excited and enthusiastic than ever, to welcome guests from all over the world for an exceptional World Cup. Thank you very much.

I would like to congratulate the young generation of South Africa on the occasion of the Youth Day, while I also congratulate South Africa’s leadership and all its people. When I started my tenure as Ambassador of the State of Qatar to South Africa, I was impressed with the youth ration in the country which is very similar to the youth ration in my country: third of the population in both our countries. Therefore, celebrating this day in South Africa is wise and objective policy in the rainbow nation country. South African youth played the essential role in liberating their country and achieving the momentum of the freedom day in 1994. Youth are key to Development and supposed to be imperative driver of efficiency. An imperative mechanism of achieving this development would depend on enhancing the quality and efficiency of both the young individual and the institution. Let’s remember that the right terminology of development is not only "Sustainable Development", in fact, it is called "Sustainable Human Development" and based on the international momentum to do so on a holistic approach, the UN adopted the MDGs in 2000. It also adopted the new SDGs in September 2015 at the highest political level of heads of state and government, aiming at achieving 17 goals of Sustainable Human Development by 2030. I had the honor to serve at the UN for more than a decade where I witnessed how South Africa played essential role as an important policy maker, with focus on youth and education agendas as well. The State of Qatar also shares the same focus and values like South Africa, focusing on youth and education as driving force for development. Thanks to the responsible leaderships in both countries, and wise policies that knew that investing in the brains of its young generation, through quality education, Can prepare our young girls and boys to protect our development gains. Educated and competent young individuals can occupy and build real efficient and reliable institutions that countries need to deliver services for citizens. Well educated diplomats as well can definitely be well equipped with the needed spirit and qualities to build bridges between nations. Among the bridges that youth are energetic in, is sport, and I’m confident that both youth generations of Qatar and South Africa are looking forward so much to the World Cup 2022 in Doha, my home town. This historical event won’t be happening without them and without their participation. I’m proud that both Qatar and South Africa shares these values and policies, which will enhance the bridges between our two friendly countries and instill the culture of peace in our generations, for bright and successful future. By Tariq Ali Faraj Al-Ansari Ambassador of the State of Qatar Pretoria, South Africa 🇿🇦

The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Pretoria would like to provide the following update concerning the repatriation programme of stranded South Africans abroad and Stranded foreigners in South Africa, conducted by Qatar Airways relif charter flights, in coordination with the relevant authorities in Doha, the Embassy of the state of Qatar in Pretoria, DIRCO and the Department of Transportation in South Africa. - The programme successfully resulted in the repatriation of 1187 South African nationals and the return of 1816 foreigners to their respective countries, through 14 inbound and outbound flights between Doha and Johannesburg. Last conducted inbound and outbound flights took place on the 2nd of June 2020. - This program demonstrates the needed solidarity and international cooperation in order to respond to the corona pandemic, COVID-19 and it represents an example of the excellent bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of South Africa, and all friendly states. - We stand ready to resume the programme once flights clearances are granted by the Government of our friendly South Africa.