HE Ambassador Ali Khalfan Al-Mansouri, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva participated in the virtual inaugural meeting of the core group for Afghan Refugee Solutions Strategy Support Platform with the participation of :

H.E. Mr. Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner for Refugees

 H.E. Noor Rahman Akhlaqi, Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

 H.E. Mahdi Mahmoudi, Assistant Minister of Interior and Director General of the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran

H.E. Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan, Federal Minister of States and Frontier Regions, Islamic Republic of Pakistan

-Mr. Indrika Ratwatte, Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNHCR

-Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner (Operations)

At the outset, HE Ambassador Ali Khalfan Al-Mansouri welcomed all the participants, extended his thanks to all those who contributed to the convening of that important meeting, expressing hope that it would lead to the desired results.

HE Ambassador said that the State of Qatar was pleased to join that group and   affirmed that the meeting would send an important message to the Afghan refugees and displaced who suffered from wars and violence over the past forty years. “This message is that the international community will not forget them and will not abandon them”, he said.

HE Excellency renewed the State of Qatar’s keenness to continue supporting all efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan and affirmed the need to enhance confidence between the Afghan parties, to move forward in the political process, to achieve consensus and national reconciliation and to preserve Afghanistan’s unity and sovereignty.

HE also expressed Qatar’s appreciation of all efforts and facilities provided by countries and communities hosting Afghan refugees on their territories, particularly Iran and Pakistan, as well as the remarkable efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and many other international organizations, especially in light of the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and related health, economic and social challenges.

In conclusion, His Excellency reiterated the State of Qatar's commitment to continue strengthening its partnerships with the High Commissioner for Refugees, and to provide the necessary support for its activities and efforts.