The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thanni called for not forcing the people to choose between “terrorism” and “tyranny,” and demanded that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to distance itself from “selective policy” and to pass a decision under Article 7 of the UN Charter forcing Israel to stop its occupation since 1967 of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, Sheikh Tamim acknowledged that “the takfiri interpretations employed by terrorism is an affront to religion” and stressed that it is Arab society that is most afflicted by it. He said that in order for these societies to stand against it, discrimination and deprivation must not be practiced against them.

The Emir of Qatar demanded serious action to put an end to the bloodshed in Syria, and formed that he had previously warned that not supporting the revolution in this country would push Syrians to defend themselves through force of arms.

He said that the Syrian people are living between the jaws of the Syrian regime and terrorism; between the threat of the Syrian regime’s terrorism and the acts of genocide it has undertaken against the Syrian people and the threat of terrorist forces that have exploited the state of misery that these people are going through.

He stressed that the first danger (the Syrian regime) contributed to the second (terrorist forces), and called on the international community to support the Syrian people against the Syrian regime and terrorism.

On the Iraq portfolio, the Emir of Qatar called on the international community to stand firmly with this country against terrorism and to help it out of its ordeal. He also called for all spectrums of Iraqi society to participate in the political process without exclusion or the practice of any discrimination against any segment of society.

Palestinian portfolio
Sheikh Tamim acknowledged that international peace and security in the world will not be achieved without dialogue relying on equality and international law, pointing out that the Middle East region is going through an extremely dangerous stage, especially after the most recent war against the Palestinian people

He described the latest Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip as crimes against humanity, stressing that the arrogance of power will not conquer the Palestinian people’s resistance.

He confirmed that the legacy of this aggression and unjust blockade necessitates that the international community forces Israel to implement international resolutions.

The Emir of Qatar also called on the international community to support Libya to overcome the ordeal it is going through by respecting the will of the Libyan people and meeting their aspirations.

He urged Libyans to achieve comprehensive reconciliation including all political sides and to enter into a national dialogue to reach an agreement preserving the interests of all.
The Emir of Qatar also lauded the Tunisian experience and said that it bodes will due to Tunisians’ insistence on the success of the experience, despite conspiracies against it.

As for the Yemen portfolio, Sheikh Tamim said that a successful experiment was conducted in this country under UN supervision, but it appears that there are forces that have become entwined with it in an attempt to make it fail. Some of them yearn for the previous regime and oppose any changes, and among them are those would would prefer sectarian war over good governance.

He acknowledged that the use of violence is sectarian or factional logic and constitutes a threat to the country and called upon the UN to implement its resolutions on the national dialogue, rebuilding the Yemeni army and dismantling armed militias.

Translated by Kevin Moore.

Original article available here.