Qatar remains committed to combating ISIS in Iraq and Syria despite the exceptional circumstances faced by Qatar and the world due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani stressed yesterday in the meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Small Group.
He said Qatar remains committed to the goals of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and to create conditions for a permanent defeat of the terrorist group through a comprehensive and multifaceted effort.
HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani was of the opinion that crimes committed by ISIS against civilians and flagrant violations of international law require uncompromising measures and enhanced co-operation across all coalition lines to ensure the protection of civilians and to ensure that ISIS and its affiliates are unable to reconstitute any regional enclave or continue to pose an international threat to peace and security.
HE the Foreign Minister stressed that Qatar is determined to continue its co-operation to achieve the necessary conditions for the recovery and stability of Iraq and Syria and to provide the necessary assistance to legitimate partners on the ground, which are now more important than ever in the context of the pandemic.
He expressed appreciation for the efforts made by the government of Iraq in the war against ISIS, which the Prime Minister declared is one of the priorities of the new government.
He said that Qatar shares with its partners concerns about the emerging threat posed by ISIS affiliates in particular in West Africa and the Sahel region, adding that there is a need for more co-ordination while addressing the root causes of this threat in those areas.
HE the Foreign Minister underlined: “We cannot fully claim that we defeated ISIS without strong accountability mechanisms for terrorist crimes and addressing the challenges posed by foreign terrorist fighters in accordance with international law”.
He pointed out that the issue of ISIS detainees and their family members in northeastern Syria is an outstanding problem that needs a comprehensive solution.
HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani affirmed Qatar’s determination to protect the collective security interests through the work of the coalition.
At the outset of his speech, the Foreign Minister thanked the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio for co-ordinating the Small Group.






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