New York - September 28

HE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, said at a press conference held in New York City that HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani presented in his address to the UN General Assembly at its 73rd session many issues, such as crisis management, or the pursuit of comprehensive and just solutions guided by international law and standards.

He also referred to his country's agreement with the United Nations to support development projects to combat cholera in Yemen. His Highness also mentioned the importance of combating digital piracy and digital espionage,  because of its impact on security and stability in the region. He said that His Highness participated with the Prime Minister of Canada in hosting the "Leaders' Dialogue on Education for Girls in the Context of Conflict and Fragile Conditions", where he announced that the State of Qatar would provide a good education for one million girls by 2021.

He stressed that the election of the State of Qatar by the General Assembly of the United Nations as Vice-President of the Assembly is evidence of the active role of the State of Qatar in the international community, pointing to the participation of the delegation of the State of Qatar in raising the issue of combating terrorism and ways of finding solutions to it. During the bilateral meetings, the Qatari delegation discussed several regional issues, such as the Palestinian issue, on the sidelines of the current session of the United Nations General Assembly. The delegation participated in the special meeting of the UN Relief Works Agency of the Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

He said he had met both his Afghan counterpart and the US delegation on Afghanistan, and discussed ways to support a political solution in Afghanistan. Regarding the Syrian crisis, he pointed out that the State of Qatar participated in the meeting organized by the European Union, stressing his country's adoption of a political solution in accordance with Security Council resolutions and the statement of the Geneva meeting. In addition, the State of Qatar and Liechtenstein hosted a meeting on "The Independent International Mechanism for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for War Crimes in Syria".

On the preparation of the constitutional committee in Syria, he expressed his support for the efforts of the UN envoy to Syria.

Developments in Somalia were also discussed, where the State of Qatar confirmed the support of the Somali government.

On Iraq, he said that discussions with the United States of America to consider addressing the problem of water suffered by residents of the city of Basra.

The Minister also held a meeting with the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the High Representative of the European Union.

On the meeting held between the Gulf Cooperation Council, the United States of America, Egypt and Jordan, the Minister said that the United States has succeeded in gathering the GCC, for the first time since the outbreak of the Gulf crisis, noting that the meeting dealt with the initiative "strategic alliance for the Middle East." He stressed that one of the most important principles of the Alliance is respect for the sovereignty and independence of States. "If Qatar joins a regional alliance in a fundamental dispute, it will not be based on clear grounds and will not succeed," he said.

On the role of the State of Qatar on the Palestinian issue, he stressed that the Palestinian issue is at the center of the concerns of the State of Qatar and all Arab countries.

On Yemen, he drew attention to the report of the experts of the Human Rights Council, which carried terrible facts against civilians, pointing out that the report condemns all parties in the Yemeni crisis.   

As for the position of the State of Qatar from Yemen, His Excellency stressed that it is based on the decisions of the Security Council, the Gulf Initiative and the outputs of the national dialogue, and that there should be a Yemeni-Yemeni direct and constructive dialogue.