Your Excellency Mr. Jose Maria Spanish Prime Minister, Chairman,

Your Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, The U.N Secretary

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Heads of delegations,
 

We meet today in a decisive era. The whole world patiently looks toward Madrid, The City of Great History City which played a notable role throughout the different eras, and still plays a pivotal role in the immigration of culture, religions, cohabitation and transferring the values and culture of the different nations. 
 

Mr. Chairman, may I have this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to His Majesty King Juan Carlos, King of Spain for hosting this assembly and for the excellent reception all participants have received. I would also like to have the opportunity to thank His Excellency the UN Secretary and the Organizing Committees for the professionalism in organizing and arranging this conference. 
 

I also have the honour of conveying the sincere greeting and wishes of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani The Emir of The State of Qatar together with greeting and wishes of his people. 
 

Since the 1982 first World Assembly on ageing in Vienna, the world is facing rapid changes in all aspects of life. One of the most significant changes is the growth of the world population (6.1 billion persons), accompanied by a in balance in population structure and age structure. As a result of this in balance the older persons category is increasing while the young persons category is decreasing, which is in turn creates a large social and economical phenomenon. This phenomenon has attracted the attention of all the concerned bodies throughout the world. This has shown the importance of the role of the older person in development, how to make use of their abilities and experiences, what is the best way to protect them and meet their different needs. 
 

We fully support and assist achieving the goals specified by the World Strategic Project on ageing held on the year 2002. such as Development in the ageing world, securing health care and comfort for the older person and preparing and supporting the environment for different ages groups. 
 

Moreover, all the planners, researchers and thinkers are doing their best to settle the important issues such as, health care, food, housing, the healthy environment, the family, social care and securing permanent income, productive work and continuous education. 
 

Mr. Chairman

As we realize the results and the social economical and cultural reflections of the developing ageing population, specially in the aspects of work, productivity, saving rates, consumptions and rates of independence, we start creating scientific and practical programmes aimed to spread social security for the older and younger persons. By providing them with modern healthy houses with the necessary facilities, provision of free health care and educational services and by preparing the environment for the older person to participate in development. All this guided by the wise policy of His Highness The Emir of Qatar which can be describe as fair policy and which understands the spiritual, cultural and social role of older persons. 
 

Our policy respects the U.N principles which has been enacted to protect the older person such as, participation and self satisfaction. This policy put the State of Qatar in the lead in the field of human development as it was declared No. 42 among the world countries. The life expectancy in Qatar is about 71.9 years. 

Following the country's strategy, a committee for older persons has been set in the supreme council for the family affairs. Therefore Qatar is considered a pioneer in fulfilling the security of ageing, by sponsoring the older person within the family environment with the financial and spiritual support it needs. 

And in this sequence, our country is planning to build modern sophisticated housing for the older person supplied with all the necessary facilities and the luxury requirements through the civilized community. 

The older person category reached an average of 2.4% of the total population in The State of Qatar, according to the population count for the year 1997, while a recent study anticipates the average will reach 2.5% by the year 2005. The reason behind this is mainly the improvement of Social and health care which the whole Qatar society enjoys. In addition chances available such as insurance services, free education and training, communications and the technology and information will be afforded the older generation. 
 

Mr. Chairman 

We believe that projects cannot record success unless supported by the values and traditions of the nation. The project should understand the cultural background, behaviour, values and the national motivation. We also believe that the family is the foundation of society, so we call for the protection of the family against reasons of weakness and enhance the relationship of the family within the mutual values of religion. 
 

We also call for international legal procedures within the regulation of the U.N to protect the family. We also call for solution for the problem of  international debts, and to enhance the social expenditure by putting an end to poverty all over the world.

We also rely on the organizations of the Civil Society and the private sector organizations to give more effort in sponsoring the older person.

Mr. Chairman

Being gathered here from different areas the world, with different cultural backgrounds, to participate in this conference shows the strong resolution and the genuine desire for all the participants to adopt a new plan for the problems of the older persons.

                                                      With Best Wishes