HE Qatari Prime Minister Urges International Community to Consolidate Security and Stability

Munich, February 03 (QNA) - HE Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, has said the global security will remain at risk as long as the UN Security Council charged with the maintenance of international peace has failed to issue a resolution to put an end to the massacres committed under dictatorships that blatantly violate the international law and conventions to retain power. This came in a speech HE the Premier gave before the 49th Munich Security Conference (MSC), an annual high-level security conference, that brings together foreign affairs and defence decision makers from around the world. The State of Qatar realizes the indivisible character of global security, HE the Premier said, noting that intertwined and inter-related issues require all states to work hard together in a responsible and transparent manner aimed at promoting security and stability; and preventing crisis. Perusing diplomacy and dialogue as well as establishing equal relations between the states are the three main pillars to achieve this vision, he said. The Premier warned the international community of the risk that "prolongation of the Syrian crisis through hesitation and procrastination to achieve narrow self-interests will turn the entire Middle East region into a volcano of war and turmoil." What we have seen in Lebanon yesterday, and what we're seeing in Iraq is the direct and indirect effects of this on-going conflict, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said. HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani pointed to his efforts as the head of the Arab ministerial committee on Syria, which included direct talks with the Syrian government at the beginning of the crisis, a call to start dialogue with the opposition, and two visits to Damascus to meet with President Bashar al-Assad. All these efforts were in vain due to the regime's intransigence and refusal to address public demands, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim told the Munich Security Conference. "However, we continued our efforts over the past two years and gave all kinds of support and backing to the former U.N.-Arab League envoy Mr. Kofi Annan and then to his successor Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, but also to no avail." He blamed the Security Council for failing to issue a resolution that stems the bloodshed and achieves the aspirations of the Syrian people. HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim also spoke of the crisis in Mali and stressed that poverty, marginalization and lack of development fueled it, adding that effective solutions are needed before the world sees the crisis spill into other regions. He stressed that Qatar supports Mali's unity, wants equal rights and duties for all segments of the country, and backs the fight against international terrorism, whether in Mali or in other regions, noting that political dialogue is the only way out of the crisis. (QNA)