Page 20 Blaze devastates Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris published in QATAR since 1978 TUESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11155 April 16, 2019 Sha’baan 11, 1440 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals In brief New road opens Amir, Botswana president hold talks QATAR | Offi cial Amir condoles with Kuwaiti leader cutting travel His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime time to Al Khor Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin he Public Works Authority (Ash- Al Khor Road, linking Doha with Khalifa al-Thani sent yesterday cables ghal) yesterday inaugurated the Al Khor, has been delivered a year of condolences to the Kuwaiti Amir, Tmain carriageway and three vital ahead of schedule as it was originally Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber interchanges of Al Khor Road, which set to open in the second quarter of al-Sabah, on the death of Sheikh will enable motorists to travel from Al 2020, Ashghal said in a statement. Abdullah Saud al-Malek al-Sabah. Khor to Doha in around 20 minutes. Also, the Simaisma Interchange on The road was opened in the presence Al Majd Road and an interchange on QATAR | Vote of HE the Prime Minister and Minister Al Turfa Street are now fully open to of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser traffic. CMC elections bin Khalifa al-Thani, ministers, gov- The road will help enhance north- to be held today ernment offi cials, Ashghal representa- east and south-west connectivity and Qatari voters will head to the polls tives and project contractors. also signifi cantly save travel time, ac- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting with Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi at the Amiri today to elect their representatives The 33-km main carriageway of cording to Ashghal. To Page 28 Diwan yesterday. to the sixth Central Municipal Council. Eighty five candidates, O MoUs on co-operation in defence, youth and sports, culture signed including 5 women, are contesting from 25 out of 29 constituencies. is Highness the Amir Sheikh of investment, minerals, infrastructure by a number of ministers and members Candidates from four districts - 7th, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and air transport. The two sides also of the offi cial delegation accompanying 22nd, 27th and 28th - have been Hheld a session of offi cial talks discussed a number of regional and in- the Botswana president. elected unopposed. The polling with the President of Botswana Dr ternational issues of common concern. Earlier upon his arrival at the Amiri stations are scheduled to open at Mokgweetsi Masisi at the Amiri Diwan The Amir and Masisi witnessed the Diwan, the Botswana president was ac- 8am today to receive voters. The yesterday. signing of memorandums of under- corded an offi cial reception. voting process will continue until The session dealt with bilateral re- standing on co-operation in the fi elds The Amir also hosted a luncheon 5pm today, followed by the counting lations between the two countries and of defence, youth and sports, culture, banquet in honour of the visiting presi- of votes and the announcement of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa ways to strengthen and develop them and political consultations. The session dent and the delegation accompanying the winners. Page 3 al-Thani and other dignitaries attend the opening ceremony of Al Khor Road. in various fi elds, especially in the fi elds and agreement signings were attended him. Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, April 16, 2019 QATAR Amir receives Botswana president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani receiving the President of Botswana President of Botswana Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, accompanied by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, reviews a guard Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. of honour at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the President of Botswana Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi at His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the President of Botswana Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi witness the the Amiri Diwan yesterday. signing of an agreement at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. Sheikha Hind meets First Lady of Botswana E Sheikha Hind bint Mena research Hamad al-Thani, HVice-chairperson and CEO of Qatar Founda- tion (QF), yesterday met with the First Lady of Bot- swana, Neo Masisi, at Edu- centre mooted to cation City. During the meeting, Sheikha Hind discussed QF’s eff orts in the fields of education, science and re- search and community de- fi ght impunity velopment with Masisi, with whom she exchanged gifts. Masisi also received a By Joey Aguilar presentation about the or- Staff Reporter ganisation’s vision and mission and was given an overview of Education City research centre should be established in from the open-air viewing the Middle East and North Africa region platform at the 2015 build- A to allow exchanges of experiences and les- ing, before concluding her sons learned in promoting accountability so as to visit by signing QF’s Visitors fi ght impunity, it was recommended at an inter- Book. national conference that concluded yesterday in Speaking about her im- Doha. pressions of QF, Masisi said, The two-day event, titled “National, regional “I am very excited by what I and international mechanisms to combat impu- have seen, and it motivates nity and ensure accountability under interna- me to go back to Botswana tional law,” gathered over 200 governmental and and try to do the same for my non-governmental organisations and interna- country.” HE Sheikha Hind with the First Lady of Botswana. tional experts to discuss mechanisms to combat impunity. The proposed research centre would bring OHCHR off icial Anis Anani reads yesterday the the knowledge available within the Offi ce of the recommendations of the three working groups United Nations High Commissioner for Human aimed at combating impunity. Rights (OHCHR) and for international experts to PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam shape practical and technical recommendations, ‘EP imposed several measures on according to Anis Anani from OHCHR. they understand. “The participants emphasised that the duty of “The participants stressed that in cases of gross every State under international law to respect and violations of international human rights law and to secure respect for human rights requires taking serious violations of international humanitarian issues connected to Saudi Arabia’ eff ective measures to combat impunity,” he said. law constituting crimes under international law, The conference was organised by the Qatari States have the duty to investigate and, if there National Human Rights Committee, in co-oper- is suffi cient evidence, submit to prosecution the By Joey Aguilar international mechanisms to by the activities of the parlia- this was a very important step,” ation with OHCHR, the European Parliament and person allegedly responsible for the violations Staff Reporter combat impunity and ensure ment like EP. Panzeri noted. the Global Alliance of National Human Rights In- and, if found guilty, to punish her or him,” Anani accountability under interna- “We have to consider all these We need to stress and keep stitutions. The recommendations were approved said. tional law’. aspects if we want these mecha- walking on this path, and by do- by three working groups. The recommendations also urge civil society he European Parliament The EP resolution also urged nism to be implemented in the ing this we can make sure that Besides enhancing political accountability by to raise awareness amongst states “the need to (EP) has implemented the “Saudi authorities to dis- right way,” Panzeri stressed. progress will go on that way,” he advocating for an end to arms sales (in particu- compensate victims beyond criminal justice” and Tseveral measures on is- close the whereabouts of his About the sale of arms to vio- added. lar in confl ict contexts), Anani said states have “invest a considerable percentage of transitional sues connected to Saudi Ara- (Khashoggi) remains; recalls lators, he said EP called on Euro- Panzeri cited the partnership been urged to create joint investigative teams of justice eff orts geared towards funding their or- bia, including a resolution that the systematic practice of pean countries in October 2018 between Qatar’s National Hu- prosecutors from diff erent countries and enhance ganisations, and providing them with direct as- condemning “in the strongest enforced disappearances and ex- to stop selling arms to Saudi man Rights Committee and EP, international co-operation on evidence sharing, sistance.” possible terms” the murder of trajudicial killings constitutes a Arabia following the brutal kill- which started a year ago, aimed extradition and mutual legal assistance. Meanwhile, national, international and regional journalist Jamal Khashoggi in crime against humanity.” ing of Khashoggi. at launching an initiative to As part of the proposed measures, states should mechanisms should ensure a victim-centred ap- the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Panzeri was answering a EP also asked for “an impar- combat impunity. join the Rome Statute system and accede to all hu- proach to investigating and prosecuting interna- EP’s Subcommittee on Human question on the eff orts of EP to tial, international investigation “This conference is one of man rights treaties; incorporate the Rome Statute tional crimes, and focus on redress and reparations. Rights Chair Antonio Panzeri pressure the Saudis to free sev- into his death” to fi nd out what the results of this cooperation,” crimes into their domestic laws and establish Ensuring that women and minority groups has said. eral Arabs who are still detained actually happened inside the he said, stressing that critical absolute jurisdiction for international crimes ir- participate in public consultations to develop, “Recently we approved a in their country without any Saudi consulate in Istanbul on points have been raised and the respective of whether the suspect is in custody or implement and assess reparations programmes, is resolution raising the need to prosecution.