UN conferences provide a golden opportunity to world leaders to articulate their policies, views and concerns on international and local issues. This is a forum where opinions are expressed freely and fearlessly, where leaders of countries listen to each other’s views and express their own. Leaders agree, disagree, argue and spar but the most important thing is that every view is heard by the leaders and the world.
It’s in this context that the speech made by the Emir
H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly yesterday acquires significance. Over 150 world leaders are taking part in the Assembly’s annual General Debate this time where issues like sustainable development, climate change, refugee crisis, terrorism and tackling ISIS are likely to dominate.
In his long speech, the Emir touched on a wide range of issues that are of great concern to Qatar, our region, the Arab world and finally the international community. He expressed his perspective and that of Qatar on pressing issues like Sustainable Development, Syria, Palestine, on the double standards of the international community on nuclear disarmament, on terrorism and human rights, all with candour and a straightforwardness that is characteristic of Qatar’s foreign policy. The Middle East is in turmoil, with huge consequences for the world, and it’s important for the international community to hear from the region’s leaders about what afflicts this region.
The Emir gave a fresh perspective on the ongoing Sunni-Shia strife in our region. He said that there are various creeds and religions, but there is no Shia-Sunni conflict in essence but only differences that are triggered by the political interests of countries or the interests of political and social forces that foment prejudices. “The existing disputes, in my opinion, are political, regional Arab-Iranian differences rather than Sunni-Shia disputes,” the Emir said in his speech. He has spoken the truth. Sunnis and Shias have peacefully co-existed in our region for centuries and the sudden eruption in hostilities between the two sects is a result of the recent political developments which must be seen in the backdrop of Iran’s attempts to spread its influence in the Arab world. At the same time, the Emir spoke of the harmonious relations between Doha and Tehran. “There is no dispute concerning bilateral relations between the two countries,” he asserted.
Qatar’s positions on the Palestinian issue and the Syrian crisis are well-known, which he reiterated in his speech in New York. He called for a political solution in Syria that would end the reign of tyranny by replacing it with a pluralistic regime. He also stressed Qatar’s commitment to Yemen’s security, sovereignty and stability•
UN conferences provide a golden opportunity to world leaders to articulate their policies, views and concerns on international and local issues. This is a forum where opinions are expressed freely and fearlessly, where leaders of countries listen to each other’s views and express their own. Leaders agree, disagree, argue and spar but the most important thing is that every view is heard by the leaders and the world.
It’s in this context that the speech made by the Emir
H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly yesterday acquires significance. Over 150 world leaders are taking part in the Assembly’s annual General Debate this time where issues like sustainable development, climate change, refugee crisis, terrorism and tackling ISIS are likely to dominate.
In his long speech, the Emir touched on a wide range of issues that are of great concern to Qatar, our region, the Arab world and finally the international community. He expressed his perspective and that of Qatar on pressing issues like Sustainable Development, Syria, Palestine, on the double standards of the international community on nuclear disarmament, on terrorism and human rights, all with candour and a straightforwardness that is characteristic of Qatar’s foreign policy. The Middle East is in turmoil, with huge consequences for the world, and it’s important for the international community to hear from the region’s leaders about what afflicts this region.
The Emir gave a fresh perspective on the ongoing Sunni-Shia strife in our region. He said that there are various creeds and religions, but there is no Shia-Sunni conflict in essence but only differences that are triggered by the political interests of countries or the interests of political and social forces that foment prejudices. “The existing disputes, in my opinion, are political, regional Arab-Iranian differences rather than Sunni-Shia disputes,” the Emir said in his speech. He has spoken the truth. Sunnis and Shias have peacefully co-existed in our region for centuries and the sudden eruption in hostilities between the two sects is a result of the recent political developments which must be seen in the backdrop of Iran’s attempts to spread its influence in the Arab world. At the same time, the Emir spoke of the harmonious relations between Doha and Tehran. “There is no dispute concerning bilateral relations between the two countries,” he asserted.
Qatar’s positions on the Palestinian issue and the Syrian crisis are well-known, which he reiterated in his speech in New York. He called for a political solution in Syria that would end the reign of tyranny by replacing it with a pluralistic regime. He also stressed Qatar’s commitment to Yemen’s security, sovereignty and stability•
