The 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which concluded in Doha yesterday, is being hailed as one of the most successful and significant meetings in IPU history.

Chairing the closing session, the Shura Council Speaker His Excellency Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, alongside IPU president Gabriela Cuevas Barron and IPU secretary-general Martin Chungong said that the enormous success, reflected in the strong participation in the meeting, is a befitting response to the illegal blockade imposed on Qatar.

Speaker of Shura Council chairs the closing session of the 140th Ordinary General Assembly of IPU, which was concluded in Doha in the presence of IPU President, the Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Heads of Parliaments and Delegations #QNA pic.twitter.com/wf2S47ODhT

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) April 10, 2019

HE the Shura Council Speaker said, “Qatar appreciates the praise it received for its hosting of the 140th Assembly of the IPU and its accompanying meetings.”

The praise garnered by this meeting organized by the State of Qatar echoes the appreciation of the nation’s ruler, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the government and the people, reported Qatar Tribune.

Although Qatar has put the blockade behind it the violations of human rights seen in the separation of families across the GCC region continues to be a matter of concern, HE Al Mahmoud said.

رئيس #مجلس_الشورى يشكر كافة أصحاب السعادة والمعالي رؤساء البرلمانات والوفود على حضورهم في الدوحة ومشاركتهم البناءة، كما خص سعادته بالشكر اللجنة المنظمة، والمتطوعين، والمترجمين، ورجال الأمن، والفرق الطبية وكل من عمل خلف الكواليس لإنجاح هذه القمة البرلمانية التاريخية. #ipu140 pic.twitter.com/gySh33IwSo

— مجلس الشورى (@ShuraQatar) April 10, 2019

“This has resulted in a lot of suffering for many families across the Gulf region, as some of the blockading countries have not stopped from separating a mother, who is one of their citizens, from her children, only because the father is a Qatari citizen and naturally his children are Qataris,” he is quoted to have said by Gulf Times.

Additionally he said, the unfair blockade has also had negative consequences “such as interruption of education, with some of these countries denying Qatari students access to complete their studies.”

The Speaker mentioned that all such violations against Qatari individuals and families have been reported to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which recognized the happenings as unethical, inhumane and illegal and fueling a potential economic war.

HE Al Mahmoud, who was unanimously elected as the president of the 140th IPU Assembly and its related meetings, also underlined that several high-level officials including heads of delegations from different countries shared their admiration for Qatar’s ability to hold such an event.

"All of them affirmed their rejection and condemnation of the unjust blockade, describing it as illegal and noting that it should not go on. They expressed their support for us since the very start of the crisis," he added.

رئيس #مجلس_الشورى : العديد من رؤساء برلمانات العالم عبروا بكل وضوح عن رفضهم للحصار الجائر على دولة #قطر ، و أنه يجب أن لا يستمر لعدم قانونيته . #ipu140 pic.twitter.com/g5sRz8DLa7

— شبكة أهل قطر الأولى (@ahalqatar) April 10, 2019

HE the Speaker also referred to the IPU president's position on the blockade, noting that other parliament speakers shared the same view during their meetings with Qatari delegates.

The 140th IPU Assembly in Doha gathered 80 parliament speakers, 40 deputy speakers and over 2,200 members of parliaments representing another 46,000 across the globe. The delegates arrived in Qatar to engage in discussions towards world peace, stability and the rule of law.

As we come to the end of very rich and fruitful discussions, I hope that you will leave this #IPU140 Assembly motivated to do everything in your power to ensure that the future work of your Parliament will take the necessary legislative, budgetary and oversight action.

— IPUPresident (@IPUPresident) April 10, 2019

IPU President, Barron said that it has been a wonderful event with platforms to enhance communication and promote dialogue for a better quality of life for the people, stressing that the countries that failed to take part in the event missed a great opportunity for promoting peace and stability in the world.

Additionally, IPU secretary-general, Chungong termed the Doha meetings and assembly successful and fruitful.

He said the IPU rejects any practice that violates the human rights of parliamentarians anywhere in the world or any limitation on them to exercise their rights. "So, the IPU does not ignore the issues of Palestinian parliamentarians and extends its support to resolve them."

Closing press conference at #IPU140. With tge Speaker of the Shura Council, ⁦@IPUPresident⁩ and IPU SG ⁦@MartinChungong⁩. pic.twitter.com/9kZlEUOlxB

— IPUparliament (@IPUparliament) April 10, 2019

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