QNA/Sharm El Sheikh
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday called on the UN Security Council “to assume its moral and legal responsibilities and take the initiative to specify the necessary actions and measures to end the Israeli occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem”.
He also emphasised the “necessity of an Arab and international move to stop the settlements and to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip which suffers from a historically unprecedented humanitarian crisis”.
In a wide-ranging speech at the Arab League Council’s 26th summit, HH the Emir also stressed the need for urgent action to end the Syrian war, pointing out that the regime there “cannot be part of any solution”.
Speaking on Yemen, he said: “We must all stand beside the legitimacy in Yemen.”
Excerpts from the speech:
“This summit is held amid complex regional and international situations and serious challenges facing our Arab Umma.
The Palestinian cause comes in the forefront of these challenges. Peace, stability and security could only be achieved in our region by reaching a just and comprehensive peace based on the resolutions of international and Arab legitimacy and in accordance with the principle of the two-state solution.
A just and comprehensive peace is our strategic choice that we have maintained for decades, yet the peace process has not only been at a standstill for more than 20 years, but unfortunately it has also persistently moved backward.
Israel is still carrying on its aggressions on the Palestinian people, the latest one was its aggression on the Gaza Strip and the unjust blockade of the Strip, the continuation of settlement activities and the plans to Judaise the city of Jerusalem.
Also recently the Israeli prime minister has clearly expressed his rejection of establishing a Palestinian state and his party has won majority votes in election after this statement.
The peace negotiations with its various mechanisms and initiatives have ended in deadlock due to the continued Israeli intransigence, and there is no use to pursue this course, which has become a cover-up for aggression and settlement activities.
Hence, we call on the UN Security Council to assume its moral and legal responsibilities and take the initiative to specify the necessary actions and measures to end the Israeli occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem, in accordance with the resolutions issued by the council, namely, the resolutions 242 and 338, under the provisions of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, and within a clear political action plan and a frame of a specific timetable.
We also emphasise the necessity of an Arab and international move to stop the settlements and to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, which suffers from a historically unprecedented humanitarian crisis, due to the continuation of this unjust blockade, which threatens dire consequences.
The siege on Palestinian people who remained steadfast on their land should not become the normal situation.
We call on the international community to put pressure on Israel to lift this blockade. .
People in the region no longer accept the contradiction between the Arab states talking about the fairness of the Palestinian cause and the injustice which has befallen the Palestinians, on the one hand, and their acceptance of what the Palestinians are suffering from, on the other.
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The Syrian regime has turned the country into rubble. The majority of the Syrians are displaced and have become exiles and their children are exposed to horrible scenes of killings and destruction.
The regime is continuing its wrongdoing without being deterred, practicing the most brutal forms of murder, including torture to death and the use of lethal weapons against civilians.
Faced by this situation, we must stand firmly together in order to stop the war against the Syrian people, in a way that would restore stability to Syria and provide security and dignity to our Syrian brothers.
We have to explain conclusively and unequivocally that this regime is not part of any solution. The political solution means fulfilling the demands of the Syrian people and allow all streams of the Syrian civil forces to form a transitional government, that would act to pave the way for the Syrian people to determine their own choices in a free, fair and transparent elections to draw the features of their future and restore their homeland, freedom and dignity without fear or terror.
At the beginning of the Syrian popular uprising, the Arab League put forward a peaceful political solution securing a peaceful and consensual change, and a settlement that would include the regime itself, but the regime turned that down, and triggered a process of genocide and displacement against its own people.
I would also like here to reiterate that it is incumbent upon us, as Arabs, and upon the international community, to fulfil the humanitarian duty towards the Syrian people in areas of displacement in Syria or in the areas of their refuge in neighbouring countries, and provide all kinds of assistance to support and strengthen them to bear the hardships of life they suffer from that are beyond the human ability to endure.
I have to commend the role of my big brother HH Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah and the sisterly State of Kuwait in convening a third conference to support the humanitarian relief efforts to help the Syrian people.
Lastly, hasn’t the time come yet to pose the question: for how long should we be waiting for international intervention in Syria? The limitation of international action in Syria has become crystal clear and there is no need for further speculation or analysis. So when will we, as Arabs, act to end to this tragedy in co-ordination with those (willing to support it)?
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The world has witnessed, during the past few years, the growing phenomenon of terrorism and its spillover to many Arab countries. It has become a serious threat to the Arab, regional and international security.
The phenomenon of terrorism couldn’t be separated from a buildup of many factors over the past decades, such as the desperation of those who have lost out in the modernisation process that is devoid of development and the despair about the possibility of peaceful change because the security-oriented state has blocked all reform potentials, in addition to the sectarian policies and social marginalisation, etc.
Terrorism should not be justified whatever the reasons are. We all condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We must all work to uproot it, because it threatens our communities and their national unity.
In the long-run, the causes and factors which led to its emergence must be addressed, while differentiating between terrorism and resisting occupation and the peoples’ right to struggle for self-determination.
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In the sisterly Yemen, we consider that the outcome of the national dialogue, which was in accordance with the GCC initiative and under the auspices of the UN provides a solid foundation for a new phase, on the basis of participation of all factions, in a fair and equitable manner.
But the recent events which were perpetrated by Ansar Allah group in collaboration with the former president are an assault on the peaceful transition process in Yemen. They nullify the results of the national dialogue of its content, confiscate the political legitimacy and breakdown the state institutions, and the most dangerous of all, they sow the seeds of a hateful phenomenon in Yemen; political sectarianism.
The Ansar Allah militia movement and former president Ali Abdullah Saleh are responsible for the recent escalation.
Strenuous efforts have been made to invite the aggressors to join the peaceful transition process for dialogue in Riyadh, but the Houthis have refused, and the former president has tried to put forward preconditions.
Then, in co-ordination with Saudi Arabia they have been invited for dialogue in Doha, but they have still refused. This is not just another mistake they have made, but rather a behavior that reflects a systematic approach to impose facts on the ground by force.
The legitimate Yemeni president has asked the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and the Arab League to protect the brotherly Yemen, its people, institutions, and stability. Because of these circumstances and out of Arab solidarity, his request has been met.
We call on all parties and political forces to give priority to the interests of Yemen and its people and respect the legitimacy vested in President Hadi and his globally recognised government by withdrawing the militias form the state institutions and public places, and work to complete the implementation of the political process.
We must all stand beside the legitimacy in Yemen and reject the policy of imposing fait accompli in order to maintain the unity, security and stability of Yemen. The State of Qatar will spare no effort to realise that in co-operation with the brothers.
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Our stance towards the latest developments in sisterly Libya is firm, and would remain supportive of the national dialogue among all parties. This stance is emanating from our vision that the only way out of the repercussions of the Libyan crisis must be through a political solution that would respect the will of the Libyan people and fulfil their legitimate ambitions in security and stability and creates the conditions for the building of the State and its institutions, with the participation of all the Libyan political and social forces without exclusion, marginalisation or foreign intervention.
In this regard, we reaffirm our backing and support for the efforts of the UN and countries neighbouring Libya, aiming at activating the national dialogue among all the segments of the brotherly Libyan people to reach a political solution that would achieve its aspirations and hopes.
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It is an Arab responsibility to extend solidarity and support to Iraq and provide assistance to encounter the dangers it is facing by helping to launch an inclusive political process to achieve national reconciliation among all the segments of the Iraqi people to dedicate a new pattern of political and social relations that would eliminate religious, sectarian and ethnic conflicts and establish a new phase. (This will) respond to the aspirations of all Iraqi people in order to build a homeland where everyone enjoys equal rights, full citizenship and decent living, helping it to confront terrorism (while) maintaining its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
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We look very positively to international efforts to peacefully resolve differences with Iran over its nuclear programme. This has always been our approach in supporting peace and stability in the Gulf region.
On this occasion, I emphasise the good-neighbourly relations with Iran, which we consider an integral part of our region and our Islamic Umma, and we also emphasise that the good-neighbourly relations are based on respect of sovereignty of other states and non-interference in their internal affairs.
The diversity of sects and creeds in our Arab nation is a source of cultural and civilisational richness. It is part of our compound Arab identity, and not a reason for interference in our own affairs.
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We have to liberate the development of our countries from negative external pressures and influences and the unfair globalisation order.
We saw how other countries had merged in regional economic blocs to preserve their own interests while our efforts have not so far achieved the aspired economic unity.
The convening of this summit marks the 70th anniversary of the Arab League. During those long decades, the Arab region and the world underwent developments. There is no doubt that the Arab League has continued discharging its duties in its capacity as a hope for the Arab people to achieve solidarity and close their ranks.
The faith on its role and status has remained a decisive factor for its survival and continuity. But the Arab League has not lived up to the level of hopes of the people and the needs of the Umma at this historic stage.
It’s high time now to reform its structures, to make it capable of handling the challenges facing the Umma.
Because historical turning points have proved that no one would stand with us, as Arabs, if we failed to help ourselves, and do what should be done.”
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the Arab League Council’s 26th summit in Sharm El Sheikh yesterday.
