Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani addressed the opening session of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday, at a time he described as one of the most dangerous phases for the region. His speech reaffirmed Qatar’s position that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations, leading to fair solutions grounded in international law, respect for the sovereignty of states and the rights of peoples.
The current crisis is the cumulative result of years of postponement, temporary solutions and unrealistic policies. Qatar’s position, H H the Amir said, has consistently been that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations. As a trusted mediator and peace facilitator, Qatar has also warned that time does not resolve lingering conflicts in the absence of a just settlement, but instead increases their costs.
At the heart of the regional crisis, His Highness identified the absence of a regional system of collective security that respects sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, promotes the peaceful settlement of disputes and non-interference in the internal affairs of states. He renewed Qatar’s call for such a system, particularly after recent events demonstrated how conflict can draw neighbouring countries into wars that are not theirs and disrupt an international waterway through which nearly a quarter of the world’s energy trade passes.
Qatar continues to believe that a diplomatic solution in the Gulf is possible and realistic. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation and returning to negotiations, H H the Amir said, can help avert war and pave the way towards a lasting solution that ensures security and stability for the entire region, including Iran, while creating prospects for cooperation and non-interference. The speech also addressed the wider Arab region, stressing that comprehensive development and the establishment of state institutions are fundamental to achieving the aspirations of peoples and security and stability in the region.
In the speech, H H the Amir stressed that Qatar’s foreign policy rests on safeguarding vital interests, mediation and humanitarian action, and principled positions consistent with international law and international legitimacy. Qatar, he said, does not confine itself to playing a mediating role and facilitating dialogue among conflicting parties, but also makes efforts to address humanitarian suffering and support human development. “Peaceful coexistence and dialogue are not merely one option among many; they are the only path that leaves neither a victor nor a vanquished.” Qatar, His Highness affirmed, will always strive for peace and facilitate its achievement.
