Qatar hails reconciliation pact between Fatah, Hamas

Qatar has welcomed the signing of the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas movements as well as the assumption of duty of the Palestinian National Reconciliation government in Gaza Strip. It also stressed its firm stance in support of international efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis.Addressing the UN Security Council’s open debate in New York on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian cause, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani said the Security Council is holding its meeting in light of important developments that hold hope for the start of a new phase of unity and harmony of the Palestinian people as well as the formation of the desired national government representing all the Palestinian parties, stressing that Qatar underlined the importance of moving forward to implement the reconciliation agreement and achieve national unity and the ambitions of the Palestinian people. “We hope that the recent positive developments will be an additional incentive for all parties involved in the peace process to end the current stalemate and give hope to the peoples of the region to start a new phase of peace, which will benefit the region and the world.”Sheikha Alia stressed that, as Qatar has been striving to provide an environment conducive to the prospects for advancing the peace process, including supporting Palestinian national reconciliation and providing humanitarian support to Palestinians, it will continue to work within the international community towards peace in the Middle East.She said that the realisation of peace for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, which the international community seeks, requires the commitment of all parties concerned to work hard to provide the necessary environment that will help achieve security and peace by preventing escalation of tensions and respect for religious sanctities, including Aqsa Mosque, as well as contribute to the security, stability and prosperity of the region, and eliminate the root causes of crises.She reiterated Qatar’s support for the two-state solution, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security. This requires the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and the Arab peace initiative, she said. Sheikha Alia said that the dangers of continued Syrian crisis on regional and international security necessitate intensified efforts to reach a political solution, reiterating Qatar’s firm stance supporting international efforts to achieve such a solution based on the 2012 Geneva Statement and the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2254, in order to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for security and stability and to preserve Syria’s national and regional unity.“To this end, we support efforts aimed to achieve calm, prevent escalation and put an end to violence, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, international law and international humanitarian law, the latest of which is ongoing efforts in Astana, and we will continue to work with our international partners to provide humanitarian support to our Syrian brethren.”‘Unjust siege on Qatar adds to existing regional crises’Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations ambassador HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani has stressed that the complex challenges facing the Middle East require concerted efforts and intensified co-operation to deal with current crises and conflicts and to eradicate terrorism and extremism. Therefore, provoking new crises in the region contributes to instability and complicates international efforts to achieve peace and fight terrorism.“While our region is living through this complex situation, instead of contributing to the alleviation of the problems of the region, an unjust siege and illegal measures continue to be imposed on the State of Qatar since the beginning of June 2017 using far-fetched pretexts that lack evidence or justification. This unjust siege violates international law and the Charter of the United Nations, runs counter to the foundations of friendly relations among states, creates an unstable regional and international environment, undermines efforts to establish international security, and creates a precedent that violates the sovereignty of states”.Sheikha Alia said that despite the challenges faced by Qatar, and in keeping with its policy of resolving disputes and conflicts through peaceful means, it renews its support and appreciation for the sincere mediation of the Emir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, and “we expresses our appreciation to the friendly countries that supported this mediation and spared efforts to resolve this crisis.”HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani concluded by renewing Qatar’s commitment to actively and positively contribute to efforts aimed at achieving peace in the Middle East and to achieve the objectives of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security.