BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28.
Qatar called for the Mecca Convention to enter into force as soon
as possible, President of Qatar’s Administrative Control and
Transparency Authority, Hamad bin Nasser Al-Misnad, said at the
third high-level meeting of heads of anti-corruption law
enforcement agencies from member states of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation, held in Baku on Wednesday, Trend’s correspondent
reports from the event.


According to him, Qatar emphasizes the importance of the Mecca
Convention in terms of strengthening cooperation and information
exchange among the competent authorities of member states, as well
as in the prosecution of corruption-related crimes and the recovery
of assets.


He expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijan for hosting the
meeting, for the warm welcome, and for the high level of
organization, and to the OIC General Secretariat for its efforts in
supporting cooperation among member states.


Al-Misnad stated that Qatar hosted and chaired the second
ministerial meeting, which took place in Doha in November 2024.
That meeting contributed to strengthening cooperation among
relevant institutions and increasing the number of countries that
have signed the Mecca Convention.


"At the Doha meeting, 21 states signed the convention, bringing
the total number of signatories at that time to 24. As a follow-up
to this commitment, Qatar has recently ratified the convention. We
look forward to member states completing their signing and
ratification procedures so that the document may enter into force
as soon as possible," he noted.


The Qatari executive emphasized that the meeting is taking place
amidst complex political and security conditions, circumstances
that deplete the resources of states and impact their institutions
and development processes. This increases the importance of
protecting national resources and strengthening cooperation against
cross-border corruption crimes.







"Qatar stresses the necessity of respecting the sovereignty of
states, resolving disputes peacefully, strengthening the rule of
law, and combating impunity," Al-Misnad noted.


He highlighted that, as part of its national and international
efforts, his country has begun implementing a national strategy for
2025–2030 aimed at strengthening integrity and transparency, as
well as preventing corruption. He noted that Qatar is set to host
the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN
Convention against Corruption in December 2025, and the sixth
session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Arab
Convention against Corruption in September 2026.


Al-Misnad remarked that the Mecca Convention serves as an
important mechanism, aligned with relevant legal frameworks, for
enhancing cooperation and information exchange among competent
authorities, as well as for supporting the prosecution of
corruption-related crimes and the recovery of assets.


"As we conclude our chairmanship, we thank the member states and
the General Secretariat for their cooperation. We are confident
that the fraternal Azerbaijan will successfully continue to lead
this process, working toward practical outcomes that serve our
countries and our peoples," he added.