SHEIKH TAMIM BIN HAMAD AL-THANI, Amir of the State of Qatar, affirmed his country’s commitments in emphasizing vaccine equality, accessibility and treatment for all and the need to combat fake news, conspiracy theories and unprecedented scepticism about the feasibility of vaccines.  Qatar has taken a balanced and effective approach in addressing the pandemic and its impacts and has continued to provide medical supplies and vaccines for the most vulnerable groups and the countries in need in partnership with international organizations, he said.

Noting that the Middle East region has been, in large part, a source of the burdens and challenges faced by the United Nations, he emphasized his country’s commitment to settle differences through constructive dialogue in the Gulf region, including the disagreements and differences in viewpoints with Iran.  This also applied to the matter of returning to the nuclear agreement with Iran.  Pointing to numerous Israeli violations in the occupied East Jerusalem, he also called on the international community to take responsibility for achieving a comprehensive and just peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, ending the occupation of Arab territory and finding a just solution to the refugee issue.

Turning to Afghanistan, he said that following the withdrawal of the American forces, the responsibility laid first with the Afghan people with all its factions, and then second with the international community to achieve a comprehensive political settlement.  In this regard, his country spared no effort in helping to evacuate thousands of individuals and families of various nationalities during the past weeks.  He also added that it was critical for all parties to maintain the tangible gains achieved through the Doha Declaration.  “The issue in Afghanistan is not a matter of victory or defeat but rather an issue of failure to impose a political system from outside,” he noted.

He further underscored that the Syria issue should not be neglected, particularly with the escalation of fighting in Dara’a and other areas.  Regarding the Libyan issue, he expressed his “cautious positivism” towards the progress witnessed during the past year, calling for the successful holding of elections, among other matters. On Yemen, he affirmed Qatar’s firm position that the only solution to this crisis was negotiation between the Yemeni parties.

Marking the fiftieth anniversary of Qatar joining the United Nations on 21 September 1971, he said he looked forward to the inauguration of the United Nations House in Doha soon.  He also emphasized Qatar’s participation in the global efforts to combat terrorism, calling on the United Nations to take lead in preventing the misuse of technology and regularizing cybersecurity according to international law.