New York: Qatar reiterated that the fabricated crisis, the unjust siege, and the unjust and illegal unilateral measures against it are the embodiment of irresponsible policies that do not adhere to international law or the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations or the principles of good neighbourliness and do not take into account the importance of the cohesion of sister States and people. They also do not take into account the preservation of important regional systems such as the Gulf Cooperation Council.

It pointed out that this crisis, which is alien to the values of the peoples of the region and that is detrimental to the state of harmony it has experienced throughout history, constitutes a nucleus to threaten the security and stability of this vital region, which is of great importance to the world and has a significant impact on international peace and security. It reiterated its call for dialogue to resolve the Gulf crisis, appreciating the efforts of sisterly and friendly countries and their commitment to mediation led by the Amir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

This came in a statement delivered by Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani before a formal meeting of the UN Security Council, convened by the President of the Security Council, the Ambassador of Russia, the current President of the Council, on the “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Comprehensive Review of the Situation in the Middle East and North Africa”.

Sheikha Alya said that this crisis has highlighted new challenges to regional peace and security. The crime of hacking incurred by the State of Qatar and followed by lies on which the fabricated crisis was based showed the danger of the use of cyberspace to threaten the security and sovereignty of states, calling for investigating the threats faced by countries and societies in this area and how to maintain cybersecurity.

The Middle East and North Africa region has, for decades, suffered from conflict and crises that have serious and continuing effects on its security and stability as well as the immense humanitarian consequences that have been inflicted on its people in an indescribable manner, which constitutes a continuing threat to international peace and security that this esteemed council had made great efforts to address, she said, stressing the need for a comprehensive view of the nature of these conflicts and crises and their causes and factors that may lead to settlement.

Sheikha Alya reiterated the position of Qatar which called for addressing these old and emerging crises, adding that it requires recognizing and addressing its root causes, meeting the basic economic and developmental needs of the peoples of the region, strengthening the rule of law and good governance, respecting human rights, and giving hope to peoples in the future, especially to the youth to protect them from extremism and violence.

She also stressed the paramount importance of strengthening international and regional systems and mechanisms for collective security and peaceful settlement of disputes as provided for in the Charter of the United Nations.

The Ambassador stressed that the maintenance of international peace and security requires respect for international law, adherence to the Charter, respect for human rights and the removal of any policies that would aggravate instability and undermine regional and international security.

In this context, she pointed out that the foreign policy of Qatar seeks to maintain peace and security, settle conflicts and disputes through peaceful means, dialogue, constructive, collective action and good neighborly relations, adding that one of the pillars on which the crisis in the region must be based is to abide by the rules of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of international legitimacy, the principles of friendly relations between states and good neighborliness, and the non-use or threat of use of force, in addition to addressing the root causes of those crises.

Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations also renewed the call for collective efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism and extremism and to take the necessary measures to eliminate and eradicate terrorist groups and to ensure that they do not return or appear in various forms.

What is needed is not only military and security action, but a comprehensive approach that addresses the thinking and discourse of these groups and their recruitment methods for young people, she said, adding that this approach is what Qatar is doing in its well-known international initiatives in support of education and youth employment.

The State of Qatar, which has been presenting initiatives to support the efforts of the United Nations in various fields, including the strengthening of the mandate of the Security Council to maintain international peace and security, is determined to continue to support all efforts to put an end to conflicts and crises and to resolve them in a peaceful manner as well as to act in accordance with the letter and spirit of the United Nations Charter.

She noted the call by the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani at the last Security Summit in Munich to establish a regional system that contributes to the enhancement of international peace and security, sensing the dangers facing the region and the people’s need for security, stability and prosperity and upholding the rule of law.

Concluding, Sheikha Alya affirmed that Qatar will not hesitate to contribute to all efforts to maintain international peace and security and will continue its policy of support and cooperation with the United Nations and partners in the international community to achieve common goals.