Qatar Participates in Non-Aligned Movement's Ministerial Meeting in Azerbaijan

Qatar's delegation to the meeting was headed by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi.

Addressing the meeting , HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs underlined that one of the priorities of the State of Qatar's policy is to support efforts to build and sustain security, stability and world peace by preventing and resolving crises and conflicts through peaceful means and mediation besides promoting preventive diplomacy.

HE Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi said that collective security faces many challenges in light of the increasing volume and complexity of conflicts in many regions of the world and the increase of extremism and terrorism. He pointed out that these challenges are common to all countries of the world making it imperative for all to contribute and cooperate in a positive spirit in order to achieve international peace and security, to prevent and resolve conflicts by peaceful means, to adopt dialogue instead of confrontation, as well as not to create crises and to abide by the provisions of international law and international legitimacy resolutions.

He noted that the trend towards imposing unilateral coercive measures outside the United Nations system was one of the most serious challenges facing the world today, adding that it posed a serious threat to the international order, the principles of equality, sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and flagrant violations of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and human rights and help creating an unstable environment, fueling conflicts and helping terrorist organizations achieve their goals, taking advantage of the absence of constructive cooperation and coordination between States.

HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs noted that the Non-Aligned Movement had repeatedly rejected these measures, including at the meeting held last September on the sidelines of the general debate of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"The consolidation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is becoming increasingly important for the international community in light of the changes that are taking place in our world today, in terms of conflict, violations of international law, international humanitarian law and human rights," HE the Minister added.

His Excellency called upon Non-Aligned Movement, with its weight on the international scene, to increase its role in resolving conflicts, defend the interests of its States and to continue to promote the goals set by its early founders to promote justice and equality among nations, safeguard the dignity of peoples and achieve economic and social justice, besides achieving the international peace and security, in accordance with the principles of international legality.

HE the Minister stressed that the State of Qatar is keen to fulfill all its responsibilities as an active member of the Non-Aligned Movement at various levels, regionally and internationally.

He reiterated Qatar's firm stance in support of the Palestinian people and its efforts to restore all its legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent State with Jerusalem as its capital on the 1967 borders, in accordance with the two-state solution agreed upon by the international community and based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative.

"The resumption of the peace process in the Middle East requires the international community to exert various forms of pressure on Israel to comply with the resolutions of the international legitimacy on the Palestinian issue," HE the Minister said.

He added that we are aware of the importance of the political support provided by the Non-Aligned Movement to the Palestinian cause. We have no doubt that this position will continue at this stage when the Palestinian issue faces serious challenges through the tendency of some to consolidate the status quo in violation of international legitimacy resolutions.

HE the Minister said that the international community is still unable to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities in finding a solution to the Syrian crisis despite its consequences and serious repercussions on the region and the world. He called on the international community to work hard to achieve a political solution that ends the humanitarian disaster and fulfills the aspiration of the brotherly Syrian people for justice, dignity and freedom by implementing the resolutions of the Geneva (1) Conference.

HE the Minister renewed the call on the Security Council to take a firm stand towards holding accountable those responsible for the crimes and violations committed in Syria since 2011 and bring them to justice.

He also called for intensifying the efforts of the international community to facilitate the access of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people, noting that the State of Qatar will spare no effort in providing support and assistance to alleviate the suffering of the brethren in Syria and implement their humanitarian commitments within the framework of the United Nations.

HE Al Muraikhi said that terrorism is one of the most serious challenges facing the world and requires to intensify coordination, cooperation, and solidarity, in addition, to take the necessary measures to confront and eradicate it, stressing that the State of Qatar does not spare any effort to contribute effectively and support all regional and international efforts related to combating terrorism.

He also expressed Qatar's support for the efforts of the Non-Aligned Movement to achieve the adoption of a comprehensive treaty on terrorism that would include a specific definition of terrorism and not be linked to a particular religion, race or culture and address its root causes, including the illegal use of force, aggression and foreign occupation as well as the denial of the right to self-determination of peoples under occupation.

HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs noted that Qatar has made great strides in achieving sustainable development in all its dimensions through the implementation of its comprehensive national development strategy, based on Qatar National Vision 2030. He pointed out that Qatar plays its role in supporting the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the regional and international levels through the provision of relief and development assistance, especially in such areas as employment opportunities for youth and education as an important tool in achieving sustainable development.

HE Al Muraikhi said that Qatar has pledged to educate seven million children and provide economic empowerment to half a million young people in the region. He pointed out that Qatar has cooperated in this regard with the UN to promote employment opportunities for youth through capacity building and launching programs to prevent violent extremism.

He also noted Qatar's support to the right of benefiting from the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, stressing the need for disarmament, the elimination of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, and the need for the nuclear-weapon States to fulfill their obligations to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in addition to the need to convene an international conference in this regard, in line with what was agreed at the Review Conferences of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

HE Al Muraikhi stressed Qatar's continued policy of constructive cooperation with the GCC countries to achieve its objectives, expressing hope that this meeting will achieve the desired goals that meet the aspirations of peoples and countries.

HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs congratulated the friendly Republic of Azerbaijan on assuming the chairmanship of the Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, noting that this will contribute to the success of the conference, in addition, he thanked and appreciated the Government of Azerbaijan for the warm reception and good organization of the conference.

HE Al Muraikhi expressed thanks and appreciation to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the efforts it has exerted and continues during its presidency of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to achieve the lofty objectives of the Movement and to address the challenges it faces.