(MENAFN- Gulf Times)
HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that Qatar, under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, is committed to continuing its efforts to achieve stability and security in the region.
This came during his participation, via videoconferencing, in the 7th edition of the Rome MED Conference.
He said that the main priority of Qatar is to achieve security, stability, and prosperity in the region, pointing out that Qatar enjoys a wide network of friends and aims to benefit from this friendship positively.
HE Sheikh Mohamed considered the new channels of communication in the region an excellent and very promising step, calling for openness and interacting with everyone, as that is the only way to move forward to resolve regional issues.
He pointed out that the region's prosperity and growth depend on unleashing its untapped potential, adding that the region has human capital and promising youth energies that will build a better future for the region.
On the stability of the Middle East and North Africa region, HE the Foreign Minister stressed that the Middle East has much greater potential than its current situation, calling for intensified dialogue and participation efforts to address the roots of the crises afflicting the Middle East and North Africa region.
He also made it clear that Qatar plays an important role within the region and beyond through mediation, positive participation, and dialogue.
On Qatar's role in the future of Afghanistan, he referred to the dialogues hosted by Qatar between Afghan parties, and between the United States and the Taliban during the past few years, which led to the end of the war.
He also referred to the assistance provided by Qatar to support its allies and partners and the ongoing evacuation efforts.
He explained that the State is working to communicate with all relevant stakeholders, including the Taliban, neighbouring countries, and permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), to achieve international consensus that ensures stability in Afghanistan and contributes to avoiding any humanitarian crisis.
HE Sheikh Mohamed underlined the need for international actors to agree not to politicise humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, considering that it would be unfair to punish the Afghan people because of the Taliban's control.
He explained that the main challenge facing the Afghan people is the lack of a clear strategy adopted by the international community or the UN and the UNSC to deal with the current situation in its humanitarian, political or economic form, stressing that Qatar communicates with all relevant stakeholders, including the Taliban, neighbouring countries and UNSC permanent members, to create a blueprint and a united front for the future of Afghanistan.
He said that Qatar shares the concern of the international community about the political and security situation in Afghanistan, especially about the threat of ISIS and the growing terrorist organisations.
He noted that the current Afghan government is unable to pay the salaries of its citizens due to the freezing of accounts, adding that this situation may exacerbate the crisis and pave the way for the recruitment of the local population by terrorist organizations, urging the partners in the international community to address this proactively and not wait for consequences of the fall of Kabul.
Regarding Qatar's hosting of the 2022 World Cup, HE Sheikh Mohamed said that Qatar is honoured to shed light on the bright side of the Middle East, which has long been a place of conflicts and crises.
He added that Qatar has the opportunity to show the world that the Middle East region has progressive, open, and modern countries and 'welcome the whole world to share our culture with us.'
On regional issues, HE Sheikh Mohamed underlined that Qatar will be happy to mediate in disputes when asked to do so, stressing that Qatar cannot facilitate talks between states or between parties within any country unless it's invited by both parties.
He explained that Qatar considers Russia an important partner in its efforts to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan, pointing out that Russia and China are geographically close to Afghanistan, and therefore they will inevitably be affected by everything that happens inside the country, so their concerns must be addressed in the existing dialogue with Afghanistan.
He said that Qatar shares the viewpoint of Russia, Europe, and China regarding security and stability efforts and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
There are some differences between Russia's approach and the approach of other countries regarding Afghanistan, but Qatar seeks to find a common solution that everyone can agree on for the benefit of the Afghan people, he added.
The threat of instability or terrorism has a serious impact on all of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries, so everybody must work together in the interest of the international community, he explained.
Regarding the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, he said that the US is the most important ally ofQatar and a strategic partner in the fields of defencee, economy, culture, education, and energy.
He said that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan is the result of its own assessment of the situation in the country.
However, based on Qatar's experience in dealing with the US on various regional issues including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the US still has a lot of interest in the stability of the region, he explained.
He explained thaQatar is working closely to co-ordinate and consult with the Turkish side to facilitate the process of rebuilding Kabul Airport and transfer the tasks of its management to the Afghan government, adding that Qatar is co-operating continuously with Turkey to achieve the interests of the two friendly countries.
He also said that Qatar is closely monitoring the situation in the Maghreb and stresses the importance of dialogue to resolve disputes, adding that Qatar is always ready to assist in mediation but it will only interfere at the request of the two sides in the conflict.
He pointed out that Qatar always encourages the continuity of the political process and ensures a safe environment for elections, expressing hope to see a stable government in Libya and Tunisia supported by thriving economic growth.
Also, he voiced hope to see a new chapter in the relationship between Algeria and Morocco.
HE Sheikh Mohamed said that he hopes that the Covid-19 pandemic will end by the next edition of Rome MED and the rise of stable governments, economic growth, and security within the region, adding that given the current trajectory of regional crises, there is a huge opportunity to think positively. (QNA)
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