Media Center

Rome / Information Office / November 08

HE State Minister for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi said that the GCC crisis showed there was a conspiracy against the modern state model the State of Qatar is following and worked for since the 90s. He stressed that Qatari diplomacy is dealing with an unprecedented crisis in the history of the GCC and the region.

His Excellency said want the State of Qatar to kneel and follow, stressing that the State of Qatar wisely insisted that it will not forego its principles nor its rational sovereignty but will welcome dialogue and negotiations.

This came during the speech of HE State Minister for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi in an event organized by the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) in cooperation with the Qatari embassy in Rome on Tuesday that discussed Qatar's perspective of the GCC crisis.

His Excellency stressed that dialogue is the shortest way to resolving conflicts and crises. He added that Qatar's position was clear from the beginning in resolving the crisis in between the gulf countries and through Kuwaiti mediation led by HH Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber, with Qatar expressing its appreciation of the ongoing mediation effort that aims to maintain the greater interests of the GCC and its people.

He praised the calm and wisdom of Qatari political leadership in dealing with the siege countries' provocations and media escalations, all while maintaining the right to respond to their claims and clarifying the facts behind the false accusations.

His Excellency stressed that the siege countries put themselves in a conflict with international laws and with the hopes of the GCC people for unity, as well of that of the Arab and Islamic world for cooperation. They are also facing condemnation from the international public opinion for their actions. He said that the State of Qatar was exerting extraordinary efforts in countering terrorism and is an active member of the international coalition for countering terrorism, in fact Qatar is a founding member in it. He stressed that Qatar cannot be accused of financing terrorism or supporting it.

He noted that the principles of Qatari foreign policy focus on committing to the UN Charter led by respecting the sovereignty of countries and avoiding interference in internal affairs. It also focuses on resolving crises peacefully and working on maintaining international peace and stability and encouraging dialogue between civilizations and peoples.

He stressed that countering terrorism is a top priority for the State of Qatar and considers it the biggest threat to the world today and requires a joint international effort to face terrorist organizations and their extremist beliefs, in order to maintain security and stability in the world. He added that there was no choice for governments but to cooperate in terms of security to counter terrorism effectively.

He also pointed out to Qatar's active role in the international coalition that saw it take all the measures issued by the security council in that regard, in addition to ties regionally and bilaterally with the U.S. and others around the world. He then stressed that Qatar will continue its role in that regard. 

HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said the State of Qatar has been actively engaged with the international community to promote the global efforts to fight extremism and terrorism and to build world peace. Qatar has done this through hosting and organizing many international forums and conferences on civilizations dialogue, strengthening the idea of religious tolerance, renouncing sectarian or ethnic discrimination, in addition to adopting the developmental policies in different countries that are in need in order so solve poverty and unemployment, His Excellency added.

HE Al Muraikhi said the State of Qatar is working in compliance with the strategic plans to update local legislations and adopting open policy and media freedom. Qatar is also working on consolidating the concept of accepting others, respecting cultural diversity and religious variety, providing modern education based on human principles and building a knowledge-based society, His Excellency added. The State of Qatar has been carrying out these efforts continuously and expanding in order to build generations to keep up with the values of human belonging and to recover from terrorist and extremist ideas, HE Al Muraikhi said.

His Excellency added that the excuses the siege countries used are void and are an effort to justify the unjust siege, it directed serious accusation to the State of Qatar without foundation, such as financing terrorism which till this day it has not submitted one proof to confirm the accusations. HE Al Muraikhi said the real purpose behind the siege is an attempt to impose guardianship, interfere in Qatar's foreign policy, undermine its leadership and interfere in its internal affairs. His Excellency confirmed that the State of Qatar and any other country that is independent and sovereign would not accept this because it violates international law and the principles of the United Nations regarding relations between states.

HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said the Gulf crisis started with void accusations on the State of Qatar's role in fighting terrorism and building world peace, where the siege countries fabricated a media campaign based on fake untrue statements from HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani after the hacking of Qatar News Agency (QNA). His Excellency added the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain cut ties diplomatic ties and imposed an unjust siege on the State of Qatar in order to isolate it diplomatically and economically.

Despite the fact that the Qatari authorities revealed the nature of QNA's website, which is considered an illegal and unethical crime, the media campaign managed by the siege countries continued, based on foundations and arguments, HE Al Muraikhi said.

Regarding the Qatari-Italian relations, His Excellency said they are strategic and Qatar cherishes this relation which has a history of friendship and mutual interests. HE Al Muraikhi added that this common commitment to this relation is to develop it in various fields.

His Excellency praised Italy's stance regarding the Gulf crisis saying, it stood with what's right from the start and has a clear vision to settle the crisis based on a peaceful solution and the need to hold negotiation talks under the umbrella of the proposed mediation efforts and the good offices HH the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi said the State of Qatar welcomed and value the international efforts to support the Kuwaiti mediation by the European Union, African Union, U.S., Italian Republic, Federal Republic of Germany, Asian countries, other countries and international organizations.