News | Ministry of Transport

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Qatar hands over ICAO a letter on Blockade Countries’ TV Channels Violations

Montreal – Canada - DohaQatar’s permanent office to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada, handed over an official letter from the State of Qatar to the ICAO’s Secretary General, the Chairman of the Council of the Organization and representatives of the Member States of the Council of the Organization on the blockade countries’ violation through their TV satellite channels in order to intimidate and horrify travelers.The official letter referred to the news report broadcasted by Al Arabiya TV Channel, a Saudi-owned pan-Arab television news channel based in Dubai, UAE, on last Wednesday ( 9 August,2017) on what it called the "right" of the blockade countries to blast a Qatari passenger jet plane (Qatar Airways) in case it flew over its airspaces. This report constituted a clear and serious violation of international conventions and agreements, notably the 1944 Chicago Convention, the International Air Traffic Service (IASTA) and the International Air Law.In the Al-Arabiya three-dimensional video, the voiceover commentary said that 'according to international law, a state has the right to 'bring down any plane entering its atmosphere which is identified as an enemy target, especially in military bases, where Air Defense is unrestrained'. In this piece of footage, the report show a shot of a missile was shown being fired towards a Qatari A-350 passenger plane.The video also said that 'according to international law, a state that bans flights from entering its airspace has the right to deal with the violating plane in any way it wishes', showing the choices the blockading countries could do if their airspace is breached.Among the choices, according to the video, they can either dispatch a fighter plane to force the plane to land. 'After which, its members may be prosecuted for several crimes, such as breaching national security and exposing civilians to danger,' the video said.The video that has been widely circulated in the international media as well as in the social media, was widely condemned by legal experts and specialists in the field of civil aviation in the world.The State of Qatar, through its representative in ICAO, Mr. Issa Abdullah Al-Malki, requested the ICAO to take the necessary measures to remind all States in the Organization of their obligations to the security and safety of aviation under international law and international norms.

Monday, August 14, 2017

HE Minister Receives Missive from Singaporean Minister

Doha – QatarHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti today received a missive from Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim, Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information and the Minister in charge of Cyber Security.The message included an invitation for HE the Minister to the 2nd Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW), in addition to means of further enhancing Qatari-Singaporean cooperation in the field of communications and cybersecurity.The missive was delivered by HE Singaporean Ambassador in Doha Mr. Jai S. Sohan.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

HE Minister Meets with UPU General Director

Doha-HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti met here Tuesday with MR. Bishar Abdirahman Hussein, General Director of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in response to the complaint the State of Qatar had submitted to the UPU about blockading countries’ infringements on the UPU Constitution and General Regulations, which are the first of their kind in the world and a dangerous precedent to the UPU conventions.The two officials discussed blockading countries’ violations of UPU systems, particularly Article 4 of UPU conventions relating to freedom of transit of postal items.The meeting also emphasized the postal correspondence is a human right and delivering them to their destinations is a social matter.The meeting also reviewed cooperation in the field of post and means of furthering enhancing and developing them, as well as boosting relations between Qatar and the UPU.The meeting was attended by HE Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, President of the Communications Regulatory Authority and Mr. Faleh Mohamed Al-Naemi, Qatar Post Chairman, and Managing Director.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Qatar to host Global Aviation Training Symposium

Montreal – Canada In the coming year, Qatar will host the 5th Global Aviation Training Symposium on the advanced trainer programme (Trainer), the first of its kind organised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the Middle East and North Africa Aviation Training Region.Qatar’s hosting of the event is part of a partnership between the Qatar Aeronautical College and the ICAO Office for Global Aviation Security Training (GAT).The partnership agreement was signed by the Director General of QAC, H E Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad Al Thani, and the Deputy Director of the Technical Cooperation Department of ICAO, and Director of the WMO Office for Global Aviation Security Training, Meshesha Belayneh.This symposium will be an important opportunity for ICAO Member States to meet training authorities and organisations to explore the prospects and opportunities of new partnerships, as well as to raise awareness of the priorities for strengthening the key capabilities of aviation training in the near and long term.450 participants from all over the world are expected to attend the symposium, including universities, specialised training centres and major international organisations working in this sector such as the International Air Transport Association and the International Airports Council and other stakeholders.Qatar Aeronautical College Academy’s hosting of this event will be reflected on its strategic vision towards developing the human element of this vital sector in Qatar and the region, especially that the symposium will be attended by distinguished international experts to highlight the best training practices that can be used by the College to support the aviation sector in Qatar and promote it.The “Trainer” Advanced Program is a collaborative international training network of more than 90 specialised training centres and institutions in more than 70 ICAO member countries. The program aims to support member states in efforts and initiatives to develop and share high-quality and competency-based training materials.

Monday, August 7, 2017

MWANI Qatar, Muntajat sign MoU to Benefit from Hamad Port Services

Doha – QatarQatar Ports Management Company (MWANI Qatar) and Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Company (Muntajat) signed today at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) headhunters a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to benefit from Hamad Port’s services for a renewable five-year period.Witnessed by HE Minister of Transport and Communications and MWANI’s Board Chairman Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti and Qatar Petroleum’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Engineer Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, the MoU was signed by Captain Abdulla Al Khanji, CEO of MWANI Qatar and Abdulrahman Ali Al-Abdulla, Chief Executive Officer of Muntajat.As per the MoU, Muntajat will export through Hamad Port a number of its shipments to its various end destinations around the world while MWANI Qatar will be in charge of providing container loading and unloading services at Hamad Port berths as well as facilitating and developing support services for containers and trucks."The MoU signed today between MWANI Qatar and Muntajat will boost Hamad Port's contribution to the national economy and support our plans to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030. Such cooperation is an ideal model for joint work among local institutions to support the local economy and the lofty goals the country seeks to achieve under the wise leadership of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani,” HE the Minister said on the occasion."Hamad Port has been able to achieve significant achievements at the regional and international levels in a short period of time as it has provided various international maritime transport lines and will continue work towards achieving economic diversification through opening new international lines to improve Qatar’s competitiveness and transfer it into a regional trading hub,” he added.Eng. Al Kaabi said: “The signed MoU is an important step towards boosting the Qatari petrochemical exports through Hamad Port, which reach 2.2 million metric tons or equivalent to 150 thousand equivalent containers annually, representing 75% of the volume of container exports of Qatar.”Al Kaabi added: “This breakthrough contributes not only to the achievement of Qatar National Vision 2030 but also the implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, to depend on our local capabilities and develop our abilities to get access to international markets.”“The MoU will allow us to ship products directly from Hamad Port to customers which they are more than 2000 customers in 135 countries, in an efficient and quick way,” Muntajat CEO Abdulrahman Ali Al-Abdulla pointed out, adding that such an achievement will enhance the company’s capabilities and competitiveness in the international markets.“The MoU allows exporting Muntajat’s products directly to six destinations: Sahar and Salalah Ports in Oman, Mundra and Nhava Sheva ports in India, Port of Shanghai at China, and Dier Banji port in Turkey. There are plans to add new destinations in future,” he added.For his part, MWANI CEO Captain Al Khanji welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Muntajat, pointing out that the MoU will enhance Hamad Port’s capacity in the field of re-shipment and put it as a major gateway for trade with the world.Al Khanji stressed MWANI’s keenness to build strong and fruitful partnerships with local and international companies and institutions to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030 and boost trade exchange between Qatar and the world.He went on to say: the collaboration with Muntajat will contribute to achieving MWANI Qatar’s goals and plans to consolidate its position locally and enhance its regional and international presence as a leading provider of integrated logistics services.

Monday, July 31, 2017

ICAO Extraordinary Session Urge All Member States to Abide by Chicago Convention

Montreal – Canada The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council Extraordinary Session, held in Montreal, Canada today at the ministerial level, has urged all Member States to abide by and comply with the Chicago Convention, and continue cooperation regarding aviation’s safety and security and international civil aviation’s efficiency and sustainability. Noteworthy, the blockading countries have - in confession of their infringement on international laws and in order to avoid condemnation from the international community for nonobservance of law, have, only shortly before the Council meeting, relinquished their positions on the closure of international routes, and issued navigation notification (NOTAMs) according to the international law.The Ministry of Transport and Communications praises the fundamental role of the ICAO Council, and thanks it deeply for holding this extraordinary session to examine the State of Qatar’s requirement. It looks forward to seeing an expeditious examination of its dossier relating to Item 84 of the Chicago Convention and the Transit Passage convention as quick as possible, as well as Qatar’s request to establish a flight information region (FIR). The Ministry has full confidence in the Council and its wise decisions that are in the interests of aviation’s safety and security. It also emphasizes its steadfast position on respect of international laws and systems that govern airspaces, generally, which was praised from the international community and which came in the form of Qatar’s refraining from taking any similar actions likewise the blockade countries. Qatar’s respect of agreements and attention to aviation’s safety and security were also appreciated.