Qatar took part in the ministerial meeting of the 157th regular session of the Arab League Council, which was held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Arab League General Secretariat in Cairo. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi chaired Qatar's delegation at the meeting. In his speech at the meeting, HE al-Muraikhi congratulated Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib for assuming the presidency of this session, expressing confidence in his experience and wisdom, which will have a significant positive impact on the success of the work of this session.
He also extended his thanks and appreciation to Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser al-Mohamed al-Sabah for his efforts and good management during his presidency of the previous session. He also thanked Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit for his efforts to achieve the League's objectives. HE al-Muraikhi said that the Arab region is still facing many challenges and risks that negatively affect its security and stability, referring to the continuation of many unresolved conflicts in some Arab countries, as well as the global challenges which also have an impact on the Arab region.
He underlined that the Palestinian issue will remain the central issue of the Arab nation until it is resolved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. He reiterated Qatar's firm position on the justice of the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, including the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
He also renewed Qatar's strong condemnation of the brutal attacks carried out by the Israeli occupation forces and the settlers' militias on defenseless Palestinian civilians in all the occupied Palestinian territories, stressing that these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of human rights and international covenants, and require the international community to act effectively to stop these repeated attacks against the Palestinian people.
Qatar renewed its condemnation and rejection of the Israeli occupation authorities' announcement of new settlement plans in the West Bank, and considers it a flagrant violation of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy, and a blatant attack on the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, HE al-Muraikhi said, stressing that attempts to impose reality do not change the facts.
He stressed that the Israeli settlement plans constitute a serious obstacle to the two-state solution, and called on the international community to assume its responsibilities and take the necessary measures to implement Security Council resolutions and compel the Israeli occupation to stop its settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories. HE al-Muraikhi said that Qatar reiterates its firm position of full support for Libya, its sovereignty, independence, unity and safety of its citizens, and calls on all Libyan parties to assume national responsibility and put the interest of Libya and its brotherly people above any consideration.
He reiterated the support for the political process in Libya, and the speedy conduct of national elections and ending the long-term transitional stages in order to enable the country to achieve the desired stability and ensure its full sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the security and safety of its citizens. HE al-Muraikhi said that Qatar reaffirms the importance of preserving Yemen's unity, achieving its security and stability, ending the state of fighting and war, and adopting dialogue, political solution and national reconciliation as a basis for ending this crisis and implementing relevant Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution No 221 of 2015.
He pointed out Qatar's call on all Yemeni forces to immediately stop the military escalation and restore the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue in January 2014 agreed upon by the political forces and all segments of the Yemeni people, which included fair and just solutions to all issues over which the fighting is taking place, including the issue of the system of government, the structure of the federal state and the issue of the South.
HE al-Muraikhi added that Qatar reiterates its position, which condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the recent attacks that targeted civilian areas in the United Arab Emirates and led to deaths and injuries, as well as the attacks targeting Saudi Arabia; adding that Qatar considers targeting civilian areas and vital facilities a terrorist act that contravenes all international norms and laws, and warns that the continuation of such actions would spread a state of instability in the region.
On Syria, he underlined that the continuation of the tragedy of the Syrian people represents, without any doubt, a serious and increasingly tragic humanitarian catastrophe in light of the absence of a clear vision for its solution, and the continuation of the killing, destruction, displacement and the international disregard. With regard to Sudan, HE al-Muraikhi said that Qatar recognises the difficult conditions that the brothers in Sudan are currently going through, and will spare no effort in providing all forms of support to the brotherly Sudanese people, so that they can overcome this stage and achieve the desired stability.
He added that Qatar reiterates its support for brotherly Somalia, and will continue to provide aid and support various development projects in the fields of health, education, creating job opportunities for youth and strengthening security capabilities, and providing political support to ensure the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the country.
He also extended his thanks and appreciation to Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser al-Mohamed al-Sabah for his efforts and good management during his presidency of the previous session. He also thanked Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit for his efforts to achieve the League's objectives. HE al-Muraikhi said that the Arab region is still facing many challenges and risks that negatively affect its security and stability, referring to the continuation of many unresolved conflicts in some Arab countries, as well as the global challenges which also have an impact on the Arab region.
He underlined that the Palestinian issue will remain the central issue of the Arab nation until it is resolved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. He reiterated Qatar's firm position on the justice of the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, including the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
He also renewed Qatar's strong condemnation of the brutal attacks carried out by the Israeli occupation forces and the settlers' militias on defenseless Palestinian civilians in all the occupied Palestinian territories, stressing that these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of human rights and international covenants, and require the international community to act effectively to stop these repeated attacks against the Palestinian people.
Qatar renewed its condemnation and rejection of the Israeli occupation authorities' announcement of new settlement plans in the West Bank, and considers it a flagrant violation of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy, and a blatant attack on the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, HE al-Muraikhi said, stressing that attempts to impose reality do not change the facts.
He stressed that the Israeli settlement plans constitute a serious obstacle to the two-state solution, and called on the international community to assume its responsibilities and take the necessary measures to implement Security Council resolutions and compel the Israeli occupation to stop its settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories. HE al-Muraikhi said that Qatar reiterates its firm position of full support for Libya, its sovereignty, independence, unity and safety of its citizens, and calls on all Libyan parties to assume national responsibility and put the interest of Libya and its brotherly people above any consideration.
He reiterated the support for the political process in Libya, and the speedy conduct of national elections and ending the long-term transitional stages in order to enable the country to achieve the desired stability and ensure its full sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the security and safety of its citizens. HE al-Muraikhi said that Qatar reaffirms the importance of preserving Yemen's unity, achieving its security and stability, ending the state of fighting and war, and adopting dialogue, political solution and national reconciliation as a basis for ending this crisis and implementing relevant Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution No 221 of 2015.
He pointed out Qatar's call on all Yemeni forces to immediately stop the military escalation and restore the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue in January 2014 agreed upon by the political forces and all segments of the Yemeni people, which included fair and just solutions to all issues over which the fighting is taking place, including the issue of the system of government, the structure of the federal state and the issue of the South.
HE al-Muraikhi added that Qatar reiterates its position, which condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the recent attacks that targeted civilian areas in the United Arab Emirates and led to deaths and injuries, as well as the attacks targeting Saudi Arabia; adding that Qatar considers targeting civilian areas and vital facilities a terrorist act that contravenes all international norms and laws, and warns that the continuation of such actions would spread a state of instability in the region.
On Syria, he underlined that the continuation of the tragedy of the Syrian people represents, without any doubt, a serious and increasingly tragic humanitarian catastrophe in light of the absence of a clear vision for its solution, and the continuation of the killing, destruction, displacement and the international disregard. With regard to Sudan, HE al-Muraikhi said that Qatar recognises the difficult conditions that the brothers in Sudan are currently going through, and will spare no effort in providing all forms of support to the brotherly Sudanese people, so that they can overcome this stage and achieve the desired stability.
He added that Qatar reiterates its support for brotherly Somalia, and will continue to provide aid and support various development projects in the fields of health, education, creating job opportunities for youth and strengthening security capabilities, and providing political support to ensure the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the country.
