The Arab state will host the next UPU summit, which takes place every four years
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the Qatar government have signed an agreement to formalize the hosting of the 25th Universal Postal Congress in the Qatari capital, Doha, in 2012. The Congress is the supreme authority of the Union, bringing together plenipotentiaries of all member countries, and is convened every four years. Although Congress’ main function is legislative, this has evolved over the years and it now concentrates on strategic issues. The 25th Congress will be held in Doha from October 3 to 25, 2012.
Today’s agreement was signed at the UPU’s International Bureau in Berne, Switzerland, by Qatar’s minister of business and trade, Sheikh Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, and the UPU director general, Edouard Dayan. It was also announced that Ali Mohammed Ali Al Ali would be the designated chairman of the 25th Congress. Al-Ali is the chair and general manager of Qatar Post. Ambassador Abdulla Falah Abdulla Al-Dosari, special representative of Qatar to the United Nations and international organizations in Switzerland, also attended the ceremony.
At the signing, Sheikh Al-Thani said: “On behalf of the state of Qatar, I would like to express our pleasure in cooperating with the UPU and its member countries and to extend a warm welcome to you as our special guests.”
Dayan added: “This agreement paves the way for a long and intensive relationship between the International Bureau and Qatar. I congratulate Mr Al-Ali on his nomination. I compliment the government of Qatar on their choice and I have no doubt that Mr Al-Ali will be an excellent chairman.”
More than 2,000 delegates from the UPU’s 191 member countries are expected to attend the Doha Congress. The decision to hold the 25th Congress in Qatar was taken at the 24th Congress held in Geneva in August 2008.