HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office, has underlined Qatar's efforts to move the UN Human Rights Council to take measures against the siege reflected Doha's belief and respect for international law.
He said Qatar had approached the United Nations since the beginning of the blockade to keep it informed and aware of the illegal actions taken and exercised not only against Qatari citizens, but against expatriate residents and Gulf citizens as well.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais in London, Sheikh Saif said that the illegal siege had affected all sectors of Qatar's citizens and targeted the society as well as companies and businesses.
"We respect international law. We believe in international law. We have approached the UN from the start to keep them aware of the illegal actions that have been taken, that have been taken not just on Qataris but on expats, on Gulf citizens, everyone that has been affected by the illegal blockade. More than 26,000 people have been affected. Families have been affected.
"The blockade has targeted the public. It has targeted the society, families, brothers and sisters, businesses. We are pursuing legal actions, through the UN or other mechanisms to make sure that blockading countries are held accountable for their actions."
He pointed out Qatar followed legal procedures, whether through the United Nations or through other mechanisms to ensure accountability and punishment of the countries of the blockade for their actions. "Qatar would not like to see what happened to it to be repeated to another country."
Asked about the statement made by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani , when he said that the reason for this siege is "racism", Sheikh Saif said: "What HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister was referring to was a component of a number of different reasons. Summarising all, whether it's racism, whether it's other words you want to use, their main aim is to curtail our independence and take control of our decisions. And they thought they could do this by putting pressure on our society, by putting pressure on the families, on people trying to practice their religion."
Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani stressed the need for the siege countries to bear responsibility for their actions and to pay compensation for damages suffered by Qatar, provided that the value of such compensation is determined through a fair judicial process. He pointed out that Qatar did not demand things that were not its right.
The siege countries closed their airspace, sea and land to Qatar, which caused the country heavy losses, Sheikh Saif said.
Sheikh Saif stressed that Qatar was a sovereign country and "will remain sovereign and that its sovereignty is not for sale, whether for the siege countries or any other country". He noted that all that Doha wants is simply adherence to international law and its responsibilities and the principle of accountability.
Asked whether he believed the siege countries were ready to negotiate, Sheikh Saif said: "So far there are no signs that they are willing. We have said from day one that negotiation is the only way out. The region is safer when the GCC Gulf Cooperation Council works together for conflict resolution and policy coordination. We appreciate the role of Kuwait and the wisdom of the Emir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, for his role in leading the mediation efforts and continuing to call for dialogue."
On the importance of what is happening in Qatar for Saudi Arabia and other siege countries, Sheikh Saif said: "Qatar is a major energy player. We are a major supplier of gas. We are a major supplier of other by-products of gas. We are a key player in the region when it comes to mediation, when it comes to humanitarian aid. We are a major player in sports. We will be hosting the 2022 World Cup. We are a major global player in investments. We are a very active UN member that believes in the UN mechanisms. Internally we have developed many sectors from strengthening our private sector to reaching the number-one ranking of highest income per person. The leadership throughout the past two decades has worked hard in creating an overall general high standard of living for the citizens of Qatar. We have further focused on education and healthcare as key components for the people of Qatar and for the future of Qatar. These are all things we have worked over the last two decades to achieve, all of these achievements did not happen overnight, and maybe all of these achievements and decisions made us a target we have been moving too fast for some."
Sheikh Saif reiterated that the blockade aimed at depriving Qatar of its sovereignty and independence and its control over its own decisions. He stressed that this will never happen and Qatar will maintain its independence and sovereignty .
On relations with Iran, he said: "As I said earlier on, the blockade is in place to outsource our decisions, to take our independence away from us. This will never happen. We will hold on to our independence and sovereignty as a nation from anyone who tries to do so, either the blockading countries or any other country. Over the last few months the relationship with Iran has developed specifically in economic relations, especially in trade and transport routes. The blockade has meant that our routes in and out have been illegally limited by the blockading countries. That doesn't mean we don't have differences of opinion with Iran, differences in the region among other issues."
Asked about His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's recent statement that what is happening in Al-Ghouta in Syria is a crime against humanity, Sheikh Saif said: "We have always had a public voice, a loud public voice in Syria. We will continue to do so. We respect the Syrian peoples' quest for their rights and their dignity. We have provided and will continue to provide humanitarian aid in regards to refugees. We support the decision of the UN for a ceasefire to stop the violence toward the Syrian people."
