Qatar supports Turkey’s efforts to secure border

Qatar reaffirmed its support for the efforts of Turkey to maintain itsnational security in the wake of the breaches and terrorist attackscarried out inside Turkish territories.Speaking to QNA on Monday, the Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry HELulwa al-Khater said the Turkish army’s Operation Olive Branch launchedon Saturday was driven by legitimate concerns related to its nationalsecurity and securing its borders, as well as protecting the territorialintegrity of Syria from the danger of secession.HE al-Khater added that the operation was in response to Turkishterritories being subjected to several infiltrations and terroristattacks. The Turkish government saw some of these to be connected to thesecurity and military component present on the Turkish-Syrian border.She noted that Qatar, while backing the efforts of Turkey to maintainits security, expresses its full support for the right of states todefend their national security, which is guaranteed by internationalconventions, including Article 51 of the UN Charter.The Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson said that Turkey, a main member ofthe North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), has always been astabilising and balancing factor in the region, adding that Qatar isfully confident of Turkey’s keenness to maintain the safety of civiliansand the territorial integrity of Syria.HE al-Khater noted that the war on the criminal ISIS group is nearingits end, so all actors in the Syrian crisis must reach permanentsolutions that take into account achieving justice for the Syrian peopleand holding accountable those who committed crimes against it, inaddition to addressing the interests and concerns of all those affectingand affected by the crisis as guaranteed by international law.