HE Adviser to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari, has said that Qatar’s priority in handling the situation in Syria is currently humanitarian to ensure providing all the essential help to maintain stability there.
During the weekly media briefing organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr al-Ansari said the air bridge being operated by Qatar to help the brotherly people of Syria is underway, as long as, there is a need for that.
He reiterated Qatar’s call for the essential lifting of the international sanctions on Syria as soon as possible to ensure there would be no hindrance in getting all kinds of humanitarian aid to the brotherly people of Syria and extend the Qatari air bridge to all airports within the Syrian territories, thereby facilitating the delivery of these aids.
Dr al-Ansari added the Qatari position regarding the lifting of sanctions on Syria is crystal clear, especially since the reasons behind sanctions, which are represented in the former regime, have been diminished, implying that they no longer exist, and it is incumbent on international community to promptly act to lift those sanctions.
Within the framework of the Qatari delegation’s visit to Damascus led by HE the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi, aboard the first flight of Qatar Airways to Damascus International Airport, the foremost needs were discussed there, alongside how Qatar can directly contribute to meeting those needs, pointed out Dr al-Ansari, underling that the State will spare no effort in providing the essential support for the brotherly people of Syria.
He pointed out that the technical team that accompanied HE Dr al-Khulaifi to Damascus was intended to get familiarized with the airport’s technical needs and discussed how Qatar can perform a positive role in this respect to ensure it is swiftly recommissioned as an international airport, especially that it had been neglected for a very long time and came under shelling from the Israeli occupation.
He highlighted that the symbolic message associated with the landing of the Qatar Airways plane in Damascus International Airport reflects Qatar’s commitment to taking all essential measures to ensure the airport’s recommissioning and resuming flights to Syria, noting that flights will return to the airport simultaneously when technical requirements are in place.
He pointed out that the embassy of the Syrian opposition in Qatar is the first of the new Syrian embassies - a stance that reflects Qatar’s unchanged position since the first day of the Syrian crisis, and supports the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people by all available means.
He highlighted the resumption of the Qatari embassy in Syria on Dec 17, and the appointment of Khalifa Abdullah al-Mahmoud al-Sharif as charge d’affaires there.
He said that the resumption of embassy operations comes after about 13 years since all diplomatic relations were severed with the Syrian regime in 2011, expressing Qatar’s principled stance in support of the Syrian people’s revolution and its steadfast support for their demands for a dignified life, freedom, and social justice. It also reaffirms Qatar’s unequivocal rejection of all the oppressive policies of the Syrian regime against its own people.
Dr al-Ansari added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the resumption of the embassy’s work in conjunction with the victory of the Syrian peoples revolution reflects the continued firm and supportive position of Qatar towards the Syrian people and their struggle to obtain their legitimate rights to a decent life, and enhances its relief efforts that began with an air bridge to help the Syrian people overcome the requirements of the transition process, noting the raising of the Qatari flag on December 21 in Damascus for the first time in 13 years.
Regarding the negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, Dr al-Ansari stated that the negotiations are ongoing, with technical talks taking place in Doha and other tracks occurring in Cairo with continuous co-ordination with Egypt in this regard, adding that no one can predict a specific timeline for reaching an agreement.
He confirmed that the situation in Gaza has not improved at all, and the humanitarian crisis is worsening, reiterating the call to all parties to engage seriously with the Qatari-Egyptian-American mediation without any actions that might hinder the success of these negotiations.
Separately, Dr al-Ansari affirmed that Qatar-Iran relations are strong and solid, with both sides collaborating on certain gas projects in the region, praising the bilateral relationship with Iran, adding that their discussions on regional events are ongoing.
Regarding Qatar’s relations with Russia, he said it remains ongoing and positive, highlighting Qatar’s involvement in another mediation between Russia and Ukraine, aimed at reuniting children affected by the war with their families.
He reaffirmed Qatar’s steadfast position towards Lebanon, its unity, and territorial integrity, and its continued support for the Lebanese people.
