Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari announced that the State of Qatar successfully reunited 10 Ukrainian children and 4 Russian children with their families today as part of its mediation efforts to bring together children affected by the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs weekly media briefing, Dr. Al Ansari stated that this mediation has been ongoing for months and has resulted in the reunification of 48 children with their families -5 from Russia and 43 from Ukraine. He praised the cooperation between both parties in ensuring the safe return of these children to their families and shielding them from the consequences of the war.
He highlighted that this agreement was the result of Qatar's substantial efforts to achieve peace in general and its specific attention to this issue since the start of the war. He noted the positive role Qatar can play in promoting and establishing peace. As always, children are first received at the Qatari Embassy in Moscow before they are transferred to their final destinations and reunited with their families under Qatari supervision.
Dr. Al Ansari commended the efforts of Minister of State for International Cooperation HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater for leading the negotiations and mediation processes, as well as the efforts of the relevant authorities from both the Russian Federation and Ukraine. He affirmed that these efforts are ongoing, with further positive steps to be announced in the coming periods.
He also pointed out that a health and social care program is currently being conducted for these children in Doha, with the presence of both Russian and Ukrainian representatives. He emphasized that, in any conflict or war, it is crucial to protect children from the impacts of these disputes, something that is gravely lacking in Gaza and now in Lebanon, where children have become targets amid the ongoing massacres and violence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs official spokesperson confirmed that Qatari citizens will soon be able to travel to the United States without a visa, following Qatar's inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program on September 20. He explained that the inclusion of the State of Qatar in the US Visa Waiver Program reflects the strategic relationship between the two countries and crowns the bilateral ties across various fields. Qatar is also recognized as a leading country in the Middle East and North Africa in terms of security and safety, according to international indicators, and it adheres to global standards in security matters.
He emphasized that this US visa exemption for Qatari citizens demonstrates the significant level of confidence in Qatar's safety, both locally and in its international relations. He also mentioned that a few months ago, Japan announced a visa exemption for Qatari citizens, following a similar announcement from the United Kingdom, where Qataris were the first to benefit from the new Electronic Travel Authorization program, which eases travel procedures.
Additionally, Uzbekistan announced in August 2023 that it would waive visa requirements for Qatari citizens.
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