Coercive measures by siege countries ‘violate UN charter’

The unilateral coercive measures by the siege countries against Qatar contravene the Charter of the United Nations, ambassador Ali Khalfan al-Mansouri, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva, has said.
In an interview with Diva International Diplomat magazine ambassador al-Mansouri said that since June 5, 2017, Qatar has been subjected to an unjust blockade by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt that violates the charter of the United Nations, international law, and the norms of peaceful relations between countries.
He stressed that Qatar attaches great importance to the work of the Human Rights Council and considers it a central and important mechanism in the international efforts to promote and protect human rights, noting that the permanent delegation of Qatar in Geneva is working to draw the attention of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms and the High Commissioner to the continuous violations of human rights that have accompanied these measures since last June and urged them all to act to stop them and compensate those affected and hold those responsible accountable.
However, “this issue will remain our main concern until such measures are finally and permanently removed”.
On the other hand, ambassador al-Mansouri stressed the continued efforts of the Permanent Delegation to put forward a number of priority issues for Qatar, focusing on the right of the Palestinian people to regain their full State and end the Israeli occupation of Palestine and other Arab territories and the need to keep the item on the human rights situation in Palestine and the occupied Arab territories within the framework of the Council’s agenda.
“We will continue to pay attention to the issue of the Syrian people and their plight and we will work to ensure that the Human Rights Council has an active role in highlighting violations of human rights inside Syria, and stressing the need to hold accountable all those responsible.”, ambassador al-Mansouri noted.
On the Qatari role in facing crises and challenges, ambassador al-Mansouri said that Qatar’s foreign policy is based on the principle of co-operation and partnership to face common challenges.
“The State of Qatar has been keen to strengthen its regional and international partnerships and has played a pioneering and distinctive role as an international partner that can be relied upon in humanitarian response efforts, promoting sustainable development and building international peace and security by launching initiatives and providing development and humanitarian assistance to the countries facing them including economic and humanitarian crises and natural disasters, and through playing the roles of mediation to reach peaceful settlements to a number of crises and conflicts.”
He revealed that Qatar had provided humanitarian assistance to more than 100 countries, mostly developing countries, amounting to $2bn a year, representing more than 0.7% of its national income.
Qatar, he said, recognises the importance of financing humanitarian assistance activities, noting that it has provided support to United Nations agencies and has strengthened co-operation and co-ordination in its humanitarian efforts.
Qatar recently pledged US$40mn to be paid over several years, to the core resources of the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), thus becoming the largest donor to the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, he added.
He pointed out that the Qatari humanitarian work was not limited to relief and assistance, but extended creative initiatives aimed at preserving the future coming generations.
He praised the important role played by Qatari charity organisations in providing humanitarian and development assistance.
Qatar, despite the blockade, would continue to meet all its commitments as an active partner in the international community to address the challenges and difficulties of humanitarian and development action and to advance the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan.
On the preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, ambassador al-Mansouri said: “Qatar’s success in winning the World Cup in 2022 is a success for Qatar’s policy and diplomacy, which considers sports as an essential option for developing and strengthening relations with the countries of the world, and reflecting Qatar’s roles and activities in the international arena,” he said.
He added that “Qatar’s hosting the World Cup 2022, is receiving great attention from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, asserting that Qatar seeks to make World Cup 2022 to be the best in the history. - QNA