(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
London: HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office has underlined the State of Qatar resort to the UN Human Rights Council to take measures against the siege imposed by four countries against Doha since last June, reflects Qatar's belief and respect for the international law, adding that Qatar had resorted to the United Nations since the beginning of the blockade to keep it informed and aware of the illegal actions taken and exercised not only against Qatari citizens, but against expatriate residents and Gulf citizens as well.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais in London, HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani said that the illegal siege had affected all sectors of Qatar's citizens and targeted the public, society, families and as well as companies and business.
We respect international law. We believe in international law. We have approached the UN from the start to keep them aware of the illegal actions that have been taken, that have been taken not just on Qataris but on expats, on Gulf citizens, everyone that has been affected by the illegal blockade. More than 26,000 people have been affected. Families have been affected.
The blockade has targeted the public. It has targeted the society, families, brothers and sisters, businesses. We are pursuing legal actions whether through the UN or whether through other mechanisms to make sure that blockading countries are held accountable for their actions.
He pointed out that the State of Qatar follows legal procedures, whether through the United Nations or through other mechanisms to ensure accountability and punishment of the countries of the blockade on their actions, noting that the State of Qatar would not like to see what happened to it to be repeated to another country.
Asked about the statement made by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al -Thani , when he said that the reason for this siege is "racism," HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al -Thani said: . What HE Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs was referring to was a component of a number of different reasons. Summarizing all, whether its racism, whether its other words you want to use, their main aim is to curtail our independence and take control of our decisions. And they thought they could do this by putting pressure on our society, by putting pressure on the families, on people trying to practice their religion.
HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al -Thani, stressed the need for the siege countries to bear responsibility for their actions and to pay compensation for damages suffered by the State of Qatar, provided that the value of such compensation is determined through a fair judicial process. He pointed out that the State of Qatar does not demand things that are not its right.
The siege countries closed the airspace, sea and land to the State of Qatar, which caused the country heavy losses, HE Sheikh Saif added.
He said that despite the failure of the blockade to achieve its goal, did not lead to the way they wanted , Qatar would not subject its decisions to any external party did not comply with the demands of the siege countries.
HE Sheikh Saif stressed that Qatar is a sovereign country and will remain sovereign and that its sovereignty is not for sale, whether for the siege countries or any other country. He noted that all that Doha wants is simply adherence to international law and its responsibilities and the principle of accountability.
Asked whether he believed the siege countries were ready to negotiate, HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani said: So far there are no signs that they are willing. We have said from day one that dialogue and negotiation is the only way out. The region is safer when the GCC Gulf Cooperation Council works together for conflict resolution and policy coordination. We appreciate the role of the State of Kuwait and the wisdom of His Highness the Emir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, for his role in leading the mediation efforts and continuing to call for dialogue.
On the importance of what is happening in Qatar for Saudi Arabia and other siege countries, HE Sheikh Saif said
Qatar is a major energy player. We are a major supplier of gas. We are a major supplier of other by-products of gas. We are a key player in the region when it comes to mediation, when it comes to humanitarian aid. We are a major player in sports. We will be hosting the 2022 World Cup. We are a major global player in investments. We are a very active UN member that believes in the UN mechanisms. Internally we have developed many sectors from strengthening our private sector to reaching the number-one ranking of highest income per person. The leadership throughout the past two decades has worked hard in creating an overall general high standard of living for the citizens of Qatar. We have further focused on education and healthcare as key components for the people of Qatar and for the future of Qatar. These are all things we have worked over the last two decades to achieve, all of these achievements did not happen overnight, and maybe all of these achievements and decisions made us a target we have been moving too fast for some.
HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani reiterated that the blockade aimed at depriving Qatar of its sovereignty and independence and its control over its own decisions. He stressed that this will never happen and that the State of Qatar will maintain its independence and sovereignty against any country that wants to deprive them whether the siege countries or others.
On relations with Iran, HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani stated : As I said earlier on, the blockade is in place to outsource our decisions, to take our independence away from us. This will never happen. We will hold on to our independence and sovereignty as a nation from anyone who tries to do so either the blockading countries or any other country. Over the last few months the relationship with Iran has developed specifically in economic relations, especially in trade and transport routes. The blockade has meant that our routes in and out have been illegally limited by the blockading countries. That doesnt mean we dont have differences of opinion with Iran, differences in the region among other issues.
Asked about HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al -Thani's recent statement that what is happening in Al-Ghouta in Syria is a crime against humanity, HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani said: We have always had a public voice, a loud public voice in Syria. We will continue to do so. We respect the Syrian peoples requests for their rights and their dignity. We have provided and will continue to provide humanitarian aid in regards to refugees. We support the decision of the UN for a ceasefire to stop the violence toward the Syrian people (MORE)
HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani said that Qatar respects the demands of the Syrian people for "their rights and their dignity," adding that Doha has provided and will continue to provide humanitarian aid to refugees. "We support the decision of the U.N. for a ceasefire to stop the violence toward the Syrian people."
Asked about the siege countries' pressure to strip Qatar of its right to host the 2022 World Cup, HE the Government Communications Office director said that such reports are "great for us" because people see the reality of some countries in the region.
"We are a developed country, we are a modern country. I think we have enough of an adult mindset to pass over childish comments. Now, about the 2022 World Cup, I think the international soccer community and the public in general will not look over comments from the blockading countries," HE the Government Communications Office director added.
HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani expressed denunciation over the growing pace of fake news. "The blockading countries are a perfect example of how fake news has been used as a tool. And not just fake news, but having social media armies organizing social media campaigns."
On the prospective visit of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the United States and the invitation by U.S. officials to representatives of Gulf countries to participate in a proposed summit before the summer, HE the Government Communications Office director confirmed that HH the Emir is indeed planning to visit the United States in April.
"It's a bilateral visit. We have a very strategic partnership with the U.S. that is in the field of military collaboration, foreign policy cooperation and other sectors. One of the key sectors is counter-terrorism cooperation and partnership.
"The aim of the visit is to further strengthen our bilateral relationship. It's also to discuss regional stability, and, of course, the crisis is a part of that. We have not heard any news about the summit but as we have said from day one we welcome any step forward in this matter to resolve the issue," he added.
HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani stressed that Qatar does not want what happened to it to "happen again to another country."
"We have financial stability. We are a stable country, culturally, politically and economically," HE the Government Communications Office director said, adding that these are all reasons why the siege has failed.
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