DOHA: The Cabinet yesterday set up an inter-ministerial committee to ensure implementation of the directives of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani regarding development issues.
The directives were contained in a speech the Emir delivered at the opening of the 43rd ordinary session of the Advisory Council on November 11.
They were about solving problems of economic zones, setting up Qatar’s first agricultural complex, drawing up a tourism promotion strategy and improving the local stock and financial markets.
The Cabinet also approved proposals to amend some provisions of Law No. 11 of 2004 making disrespecting the national flag an offence. Amendments would also make disrespecting flags of other GCC countries and those of friendly countries as an offence.
The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani chaired the Cabinet’s regular meeting at Emiri Diwan yesterday, QNA reported.
The Cabinet welcomed GCC leaders to their summit in Doha on December 9 as part of GCC efforts to enhance cooperation and integration for the benefit of the member states and peoples, and promote regional security and stability.
The Cabinet hailed the wisdom of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, his leadership and keenness to promote joint GCC work, and his initiative to call a meeting in Riyadh recently, which resulted in positive outcomes.
The Cabinet also praised efforts of the Emir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah in bringing closer views and strengthening bonds of brotherhood and Gulf solidarity. It also praised efforts made to preserve GCC unity and coherence.
The Cabinet agreed to approve an agreement with Algeria on the application of the customs law. It endorsed a cooperation agreement between Qatar News Agency and Algeria Press Service, and an executive media agreement between Qatar and Algeria.
It also approved a memorandum of understanding between Qatar and Sri Lanka in the tourism field. Qatar also signed an agreement in the sports field with Seychelles.
The Cabinet then reviewed a report by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs on the report of the permanent committee for legislative affairs to grant customs personnel powers of judicial execution. It looked into two reports from the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology on works of a committee dedicated to e-government, from April to September 2014. The reports included details of the main strategic plan for national e-government 2020, and progress made so far. The Peninsula
