HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi yesterday said that the GCC crisis showed there was a conspiracy against the modern state model Qatar is following and worked for since the 1990s. He stressed that Qatari diplomacy is dealing with an unprecedented crisis in the history of the GCC and the region.
He stressed that Qatar wisely insisted that it will not forego its principles nor its rational sovereignty but will welcome dialogue and negotiations.
HE Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi was speaking at a discussion on ‘Qatar’s perspective of the GCC crisis’, organised by the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) in co-operation with the Qatari embassy in Rome on Tuesday.
He stressed that dialogue is the shortest way to resolving conflicts and crises, adding that Qatar’s position was clear from the beginning in resolving the crisis through mediations led by Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. “Qatar has expressed its appreciation of the ongoing mediation effort that aims to maintain the greater interests of the GCC and its people.”
He praised the calm and wisdom of Qatari political leadership in dealing with the siege countries’ provocations and media escalations, all while maintaining the right to respond to their claims and clarifying the facts behind the false
accusations.
The minister stressed that the siege countries put themselves in a conflict with international laws and with the hopes of the GCC people for unity, as well of that of the Arab and Islamic world for co-operation. “They are also facing condemnation from the international public opinion for their actions.”
He said that Qatar was exerting extraordinary efforts in countering terrorism and is an active member of the international coalition for countering terrorism. “In fact, Qatar is a founding member in it. Qatar cannot be accused of financing terrorism or supporting it.”
He noted that the principles of Qatari foreign policy focus on committing to the UN Charter led by respecting the sovereignty of countries and avoiding interference in internal affairs. “The principles also focus on resolving crises peacefully and working on maintaining international peace and stability and encouraging dialogue between civilisations and peoples.
He stressed that countering terrorism is a top priority for Qatar and considers it the biggest threat to the world today. “This requires a joint international effort to face terrorist organisations and their extremist beliefs, in order to maintain security and stability in the world.”
He added that there was no choice for governments but to co-operate in terms of security to counter terrorism effectively.
He also pointed out to Qatar’s active role in the international coalition that saw it take all the measures issued by the Security Council in that regard, in addition to ties regionally and bilaterally with the US and others around the world. He stressed that Qatar will continue its role in that regard.
The minister said Qatar has been actively engaged with the international community to promote the global efforts to fight extremism and terrorism and to build world peace. “Qatar has done this through hosting and organising many international forums and conferences on civilisations dialogue, strengthening the idea of religious tolerance, renouncing sectarian or ethnic discrimination, in addition to adopting the developmental policies in different countries that are in need in order so solve poverty and unemployment,” he added.
Al-Muraikhi said Qatar is working in compliance with the strategic plans to update local legislations and adopting open policy and media freedom. “Qatar is also working on consolidating the concept of accepting others, respecting cultural diversity and religious variety, providing modern education based on human principles and building a knowledge-based society,” he added.
The minister added that the excuses the siege countries used are void and are an effort to justify the unjust siege. “The real purpose behind the siege is an attempt to impose guardianship, interfere in Qatar’s foreign policy, undermine its leadership and interfere in its internal affairs. Qatar and for that matter any other country that is independent and sovereign would not accept this.”
He said the Gulf crisis started with void accusations on Qatar’s role in fighting terrorism and building world peace, where the siege countries fabricated a media campaign based on fake statements from His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani after the hacking of Qatar News Agency (QNA).
“Despite the fact that the Qatari authorities revealed the nature of QNA’s website, which is considered an illegal and unethical crime, the media campaign managed by the siege countries continued,” he said.
Regarding the Qatari-Italian relations, the minister said they are strategic and Qatar cherishes this relation which has a history of friendship and mutual interests. “The common commitment to this relation is to develop it in various fields.”
The minister praised Italy’s stance regarding the Gulf crisis, saying it stood with what’s right from the start and has a clear vision to settle the crisis based on a peaceful solution and the need to hold negotiation talks under the proposed mediation efforts and the good offices of Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.
He said Qatar welcomes and values the support to the Kuwaiti mediation by the European Union, African Union, the US, Italy, Germany, Asian countries, other countries and international organisations.

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