Qatar
Amir calls for unconditional talks to end Gulf crisis; stresses for laws to ensure cyber security
Amir calls for unconditional talks to end Gulf crisis; stresses for laws to ensure cyber security
*Amir addresses 73rd UN General Assembly *Blockade has only made Qatar stronger, economic growth continues unabated *No peace in Middle East without a solution to the Israel-Palestinian dispute *Qatar rejects terrorism in all forms; fight against terrorism is among the priorities of Qatar's policy at the national, regional and international levels *Qatar agrees to join the UN plan to fight cholera in Yemen *The bloodshed and tyranny in Syria has to end
Qatar has emerged a stronger nation in spite of the unjust siege imposed on it more than a year ago and the country has maintained its leading rankings in global indicators, especially in the areas of human security and development, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al -Thani said on Tuesday.
Participating in the General Debate of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Amir said since the blockade, many facts have been revealed about a pre-arranged campaign of incitement against Qatar beside the insinuation and fabrications used to create the Gulf crisis.
He said the international community has recognised the falsity of the allegations that had been propagated "against my country to justify the premeditated measures taken under the pretext of these invented and untrue allegations, in a flagrant violation of the international law and the basis of relations between nations, and the values and norms of our peoples".
The Amir said despite all the measures taken to inflict harm on Qatar's security and stability, and create hardships for its people in addition to the economic warfare launched to hinder its development process, yet the period that followed the unjust siege has witnessed the strengthening of the status of Qatar and consolidation of its role as an active partner in the regional and international arenas.
He said Qatar's economy continued its growth as a proof of its vigour and consistency. Qatar has also maintained its advanced and leading rankings vis-a-vis the countries of the region in global indicators, especially in the areas of human security and human development. "This has strengthened the Qatari people's faith in their potentials, values and principles, and cemented cohesion of their unity."
Advocating the necessity of peaceful settlement of disputes, he said
Qatar is open to all the appreciated efforts of brotherly and friendly nations to end the crisis "through an unconditional dialogue based on mutual respect for the sovereignty of nations".
"We hope that we will all transform the Council's current plight into an opportunity for reforming it and putting forward binding mechanisms to resolve the differences among its states through intra-dialogue, to avoid any similar recurrence in the future. It is not sensible for our Arab region to remain a hostage to some marginal differences, which are fabricated in our case, and which consume efforts and energies and waste funds exceeding what we need to allocate to the just causes that are supposed to be agreed upon by us."
The Amir said the world faces serious security, political and economic threats and challenges that do not respect national borders of countries and put to the test the United Nations as a framework for collective security.
With regard to the Palestinian cause, the Amir said only a little progress has been made on the lingering issues of the Middle East.
Sheikh Tamim said the political process initiated outside the UN has resulted in further stalemate and complexity. "Now we are witnessing attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause through the liquidation of issues relating to the permanent solution such as Jerusalem, refugees, sovereignty and borders."
It was necessary to solve the dispute in accordance with principles such as the right to self-determination and inadmissibility of annexation of territories of others by force, he said.
The Amir pointed out the deterioration of the situations in the Palestinian territories, particularly the inhumane conditions in the Gaza Strip. "We reaffirm the importance of negotiations and the resumption of their tracks, but that will require commitment to the resolutions of international legitimacy, foremost of which is the two-state solution, and the Arab peace initiative, on the basis of East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian State, on 1967- borders. Moreover, there can be no solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict without a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause."
The Amir reiterated Qatar's material and political support to the brotherly Palestinian people.
Referring to Syria, Sheikh Tamim said after the elapse of more than seven years, the international community is still unable to find a solution to the exacerbating crisis. He warned that if left unresolved , the crimes of genocide, mass displacement and wholesale death in prisons under torture could become a common practice that the international community can get accustomed to.
Regarding the Yemeni issue, the Amir said Qatar is keen on the unity, independence and territorial integrity of that country. "We call upon all the Yemeni parties to national reconciliation to end the conflict on the basis of the Security Council Resolution 2216, the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and the outcomes of the National Dialogue."
The Amir also appealed the international community to help the brotherly Yemeni people who are facing a grave humanitarian situation, and to facilitate free access for humanitarian assistance to all areas in the country.
"On this occasion, I announce Qatar's agreement with the United Nations to fight cholera in Yemen by supporting projects related to combating the causes of the disease and to halt its spread. We call upon other countries to join us in supporting this vital effort."
On the Libyan crisis, the Amir said recent developments have put the security of the country and its territorial integrity at stake. "We reiterate our support for the Skhirat agreement signed in December 2015 and all its outcomes."
The Amir appreciated the efforts of the government to restore stability and achieve national reconciliation in Iraq by collaboration of all political parties and all components of Iraqi community and "we value the successes and sacrifices of the Iraqi people in the fight against terrorism and extremism in all its forms".
Highlighting the threat poised by terrorism, the Amir said there is consensus that terrorism has become one of the most outstanding challenges facing the world . He said Qatar rejects all forms and shapes of terrorism anywhere in the world, regardless of the reasons and pretexts.
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