Cairo / Information Office / September 09

HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi handed over the presidency of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level to HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, during the launching of the 156th session of the Arab League Council on Thursday at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League.

In a speech before handing over the presidency of the council, HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi said that the State of Qatar assumed the presidency of the 155th session of the council in early March, under difficult circumstances and grave challenges, the most prominent of which was the continuation of conflicts in the Arab region, which caused the displacement of millions, who were in dire need of assistance to provide the minimum basic humanitarian needs to face their daily conditions, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, which led to the death of more than four million people around the world.

HE the Minister said that the recent Israeli war on the Gaza Strip added more challenges and heavy consequences on everyone, especially the brothers in Gaza, with the killing, destruction, displacement and demolition it left, in addition to the Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

His Excellency pointed out that within the framework of the State of Qatar's continuation of providing humanitarian and development aid to meet the urgent needs of the brotherly Palestinian people, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani directed in May to allocate a USD500 million grant for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

The State of Qatar also hosted an emergency meeting of the Arab League Council at the level of foreign ministers on June 15, 2021, to discuss Israeli crimes and attacks in the occupied Jerusalem, Islamic and Christian sanctities and attacks on worshipers, in addition to brutal attacks and plans to seize the homes of Jerusalemites, especially in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in an attempt to empty the Holy City and displace its people.

HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs explained that in the context of continuing coordination and consultation on the current Arab situation and ways to strengthen joint Arab action mechanisms in the face of the growing challenges facing Arab countries and the regional environment, Doha also hosted a consultative meeting of Arab foreign ministers on June 15 and an emergency meeting at the same level regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to reaffirm the full Arab support for the Egyptian and Sudanese position on this issue.

HE the Minister stressed that the Palestine issue remains the first Arab issue, reiterating the position of the State of Qatar that the continuation of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian and Arab lands in general, and the resulting illegal practices, especially the expansion of settlements and the Judaization of the city of Jerusalem, and the unjust siege on the Gaza Strip will only lead to more escalation and instability, underscoring that guaranteeing the rights of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, and the establishment of their Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and ending the Israeli occupation of all occupied Arab lands, including the Syrian Golan and Lebanese lands, is the only way to achieve security and stability in this region.

His Excellency said that the State of Qatar affirms its support for the Palestinian people, and reiterates its adherence to the Arab position, which affirms that peace is the strategic option and that it is a permanent, comprehensive and just solution that is based on the two-state solution in accordance with the references and resolutions of international legitimacy, adding that the State of Qatar will continue to work with all international parties in the peace process in the Middle East to overcome the difficulties facing the resumption of peace negotiations and it will spare no effort in providing various forms of material and political support to the brotherly Palestinian people until they obtain all their legitimate rights.

HE Al Muraikhi called on the Palestinian brothers to adhere to the option of unity, give priority to the higher interest and achieve national reconciliation in a way that embodies the cohesion and unity of the Palestinian people as the best way in their struggle against the occupier and obtaining all their legitimate rights.

Meanwhile, HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi said that the Syrian crisis is still without a solution that achieves the aspirations of the Syrian people for security and stability, which has led to a tragic humanitarian situation for the Syrian people, and what increases this humanitarian catastrophe is the continuation of the killing and destruction and displacement by the Syrian regime.

He added, it is time for the Syrians to obtain security, a decent life and justice, and this will only be achieved by reaching a political solution that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people in all its spectrum, in accordance with the Geneva I communique and Security Council resolutions, including Resolution No. 2254, in a manner that preserves the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Syria and meets the aspirations of the Syrian people, and the accountability of the perpetrators of atrocities against civilians, in accordance with the international law.

On the Yemeni crisis, HE the Minister affirmed Qatar's firm position on the importance of preserving Yemen's unity, achieving its security and stability, ending the state of fighting, adopting dialogue, political solution and national reconciliation as a basis for ending this crisis and implementing relevant Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution No. 2216.

He called on all Yemeni forces to adhere to the voice of wisdom and the interests of their people, work for an immediate halt to the military escalation, and return to the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue agreed upon by the political forces and all segments of the Yemeni people.

Regarding the Libyan issue, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs affirmed the State of Qatar's commitment to fully support the State of Libya, its sovereignty, independence, unity and safety of its citizens, and the categorical rejection of all forms of foreign interference in the Libyan internal affairs. He also welcomed every Arab, regional and international effort that paves the way for holding general elections in Libya on December 24, 2021, to achieve the stability of the country and guarantee the full sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security and safety of its citizens.

In conclusion, HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi congratulated HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah for presiding over the current 156th session of the Council, wishing him all success.

The meetings of this session will discuss many topics on the draft agenda, foremost of which is the Palestinian issue, developments in Syria, Yemen and Libya, solidarity with the Lebanese Republic, and the security of navigation and energy supplies in the Arab Gulf region.

The draft agenda also includes items related to support for peace and development in the Republic of Sudan and the support for the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Union of the Comoros, the Arab-African cooperation, and the Arab-European dialogue.

Also, it consists of Arab relations with international and regional groupings, cooperation between the Arab League and the United Nations and other international organizations, and support for internally displaced persons in Arab countries and the Iraqis in particular