In the course of discussions carried out during my visit to Qatar in April, 1983, it was recommended that the UNEP Regional Office for West Asia should assist the Permanent Environmental Protection Committee (EPC) of Qatar by commissioning a study on the environmental situation In Qatar to identify priority areas that should be addressed by the EPC in the biennium 1984/1985. This recommendation was further elaborated and approved during the official visit of Dr. Mostafa K. Tolba, Executive Director of UNEP, to Qatar in November,1983.