Qatar condemns regional attacks, approves draft laws at Cabinet meeting

Doha, Qatar - The State of Qatar has strongly condemned recent attacks against Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and commercial shipping, warning that these incidents threaten regional stability and freedom of navigation, according to a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani on Wednesday. The attacks by the Houthi group on civilian and economic sites in Saudi cities injured several civilians, including women and children.

The Cabinet also denounced Iran's attacks on the Saudi tanker Sidr in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in crew deaths, describing it as a serious violation of international law and freedom of navigation, and a breach of UN Security Council Resolution 2817. Qatar reiterated its opposition to using the strategic waterway for political pressure, emphasizing that freedom of navigation is a principle that cannot be compromised.

In terms of legislation, the Cabinet approved a draft law regulating artistic professions, aimed at establishing a comprehensive legal framework for professional artistic activities in Qatar. The proposed law seeks to support creativity, protect artists' rights, and integrate arts and culture into social development and the creative economy. Additionally, Qatar approved a draft decision amending provisions of government tender and auction regulations, aiming to improve procurement procedures and increase efficiency.

The meeting also saw the approval of a memorandum of understanding between Qatar's Ministry of Municipality and Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, focusing on cooperation in agriculture, livestock, and food security. Lastly, the Cabinet reviewed reports on the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs' recent visits to the United States and the Pax Silica Summit in Washington.