Qatar has called for finding a solution to the issue of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar through peaceful and comprehensive means and dialogue so as to achieve national unity.
This came in the remarks of HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi during his participation in a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation’s (OIC) member-states in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the situation of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
HE al-Muraikhi emphasised Qatar’s belief that conflict settlement should be done through peaceful means so as to the bring the points of view of the parties to the conflict closer, noting that impacts of disputes and conflicts are not confined to a certain geographic area but rather go beyond borders to threaten global security and peace.
He added that the Muslim world still faces several challenges that affect its unity and stability and limit cultural interaction and global co-operation.
The minister said that stability in the Muslim world will reflect on the whole world, and settling disputes in Muslim states will help in building global peace and consolidating human values.
The minister of state for foreign affairs said the Rohingya issue is a humanitarian issue in the first place and requires dialogue and new patterns of co-operation and partnerships, adding that settling disputes is not inseparable from development projects, achieving transitional justice, the rule of law and good governance, and addressing human rights violations.
HE al-Muraikhi said Qatar supports national reconciliation and backs all efforts that aim at raising regional and international awareness of the effects of the issue, adding that Doha has pledged financial aid to some neighbouring countries to cover the costs of hosting Rohingya refugees as well as provided assistance inside Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State.
The minister added that Qatar’s keenness on a peaceful settlement stems from its firm belief that if clashes, hate speech and incitement to violence continue, an environment of violent extremism from all sides as well as chaos might be created, which, he added, will negatively affect the peace and stability of the whole region.
HE al-Muraikhi said the OIC and the international community have a responsibility to play a major role in raising the level of co-operation so as to establish a mechanism at the regional and international levels to solve the issue of Rohingya.
He added that all sides must co-operate to settle the issue in a way that helps Rohingya live in dignity with their fellow citizens in a safe environment where stability, prosperity, growth and national unity prevail.
He thanked Malaysia for hosting the meeting as well as the warm reception and hospitality, praising the efforts of OIC general secretariat in preparing for the meeting and its efforts to reach a peaceful settlement for the issue.
HE al-Muraikhi also held separate meetings with Shahriar Alam, Bangladeshi state minister of foreign affairs, and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on the sidelines of the OIC foreign ministers meeting.
Meanwhile, OIC Secretary-General Dr Yousef al-Othaimeen, addressing the meeting, said the organisation is co-operating with Myanmar authorities on various levels, and called on them to follow just and transparent policies towards racial and religious minorities, adding that the authorities must enable Rohingya to restore their citizenship, stop discrimination, violence and the unexplained violations against them. 
The OIC secretary-general added that the organisation received many reports from different sources about violence against the Rohingya Muslims, including unlawful killings, burning of homes, and many arrests by security forces. 
More than 65,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh between October 9 last year and January 5, according to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 
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