*Siege violating international laws and human rights, Sheikh Mohamed tells UN rights council

*Doha reiterates it is ready for talks to end Gulf crisis that has entered the fourth month

HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has underlined that Qatar's open support for human rights, public opinion and the right of people to self-determination is one of the most important reasons for attempts to impose guardianship on it and to undermine its media.

Addressing the 36th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday, the foreign minister reiterated Qatar's readiness for a dialogue to end the Gulf crisis, within the framework of mutual respect and preservation of the sovereignty of the states. Any results reached should be applicable to all parties, he said.
The minister insisted that "it is no secret that the real motives behind the siege and the severing of diplomatic relations with the State of Qatar were not aimed at fighting terrorism. But rather an attempt to force Qatar into a state of trusteeship to interfere in its foreign policy, to undermine its sovereignty and to interfere in its domestic policy."
Qatar cannot tolerate this situation, he said.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed Qatar's appreciation for the Kuwaiti mediation, led by Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
He said Qatar firmly believed in dialogue to resolve the crisis, "despite the depth of the wound in the hearts of the Qatari people, which was caused by the policies of the siege countries" and their policy of spreading lies and fabrications.
Sheikh Mohamed noted Qatar has been subjected to exceptional circumstances and challenges for more than three months as a result of an illegal siege imposed by a number of countries. The blockade clearly violates international human rights laws and conventions, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations General Assembly resolution, the provisions of international law and the rules governing relations between states.
He pointed out that the present crisis began with the hacking of the website of the Qatar News Agency and spreading false news attributed to His Highness the Emir, followed by malicious media campaigns against Qatar, and false accusations that Qatar funds terrorism.
The closure of the air, sea and land borders was in violation of the provisions of international law and international trade rules, which had a negative impact on the freedom of trade and investment, he said noting that the siege countries had taken many illegal measures that constituted a grave violation of civil, economic and social rights, including prohibiting the entry of Qatari citizens into or passing through their countries, as well as preventing their citizens from traveling to or residing in Qatar.
He added that these measures led to the separation of many families , especially women and children, and the deprivation of many Qatari students of their right to continue their education in universities. "Many other basic rights and freedoms, such as the right to work , the right to own private property and freedom of movement are still ongoing."
Referring to the controversy following a telephone conversation between His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, the foreign minister said his country was taken aback when Saudi Arabia disputed a readout of the "positive" call.
"Unfortunately, we have seen - half an hour later - a retaliation from their side by issuing a statement that what we have issued is a lie," he told reporters on the sidelines of the rights council.
He, however, stressed his country's "readiness for dialogue to end this crisis.
"We are willing to talk to them, we are ready to engage if it is based on principles which are not violating the international law and respect the sovereignty of each country."

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