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QNA
Munich
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani has reiterated the call of the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani for a binding regional security agreement in the Middle East and the need for cooperation to address collective threats.
“The crises in the Middle East were interconnected and require comprehensive solutions,” Sheikh Mohammed told a panel discussion during the 56th Munich Security Conference on de-escalation in the Gulf region.
The FM expressed Qatar’s belief that peace and stability will be restored only when the region’s countries agree to work together to reach consensus on key challenges, with regional players determining security-related affairs.
“Security will be a prerequisite to prosperity,” he said.
The FM noted that the Amir spoke at this same podium two years ago, and shed light on the critical challenges facing the Middle East and called for collective action to solve them.
He said everyone can agree that the Middle East desperately needs sustainable regional security agreements to ensure long-term stability, highlighting that Qatar has been ranked one of the safest countries in the world despite being located in a geographically turbulent region.
“As we scan the region for what’s needed, we see that a successful Middle East accord needs to be: 1. collective and binding, 2. based on agreed principles of security, developed with rules of governance, dispute resolution, and accountability, 3. respectful of sovereignty and equality among its members, and 4. a commitment to non-interference in internal affairs,” he said.
“It is precisely the manipulating interference, justified with political, social, and religious ideologies, that causes so much turmoil in the Middle East,” the FM said, adding that it was these repeated interferences by adventurous rulers with risky miscalculations that lead to devastating consequences.
Manipulating one another to achieve dominance, through direct or indirect interference, puts the region in a perpetual state of volatility, he said.
“Zero-sum games do not apply to diplomacy, especially in the Middle East.”
The FM further said, “Instead of applying exclusion or oppression, we have a greater chance of achieving long-term security through direct, accountable collaboration and dialogue within a regional security framework.”
“With foundational principles such as collective, binding, accountable, respectful, the regional members can agree on security rules. It will include modern security technology, such as early warning systems, CBMs, and establishing a non-proliferation zone; counterterrorism cooperation in stopping terrorist financing and money laundering, while enhancing intelligence sharing, with all parties operating with a clear non-politicised definition of terrorism; aviation and maritime security to ensure free and safe passage through the region; and a forum for dialogue on real, practical, and imminent threats.”
The FM stressed that any future economic and political dimensions must be built on fundamental security.
“Once we deliver basic stability to the Middle East, we can build enough trust and confidence with each other to advance regional trade, development, and the productive use of energy resources,” he said.
“We have seen first hand that security is a prerequisite for prosperity. Furthermore, stability for the wider Middle East cannot be a reality without a separate legitimate peace process made directly between Palestinians and Israelis. Their peace process must be comprehensive, just, and lasting, and must be based on international law and UN resolutions.”
The FM further added that the world continues to talk about occupation in the year 2020, stressing that “a genuine two-state solution is essential, so the long-oppressed Palestinian people finally receive the right to self-determination and right of return, with East-Jerusalem as their states capital, based on the 1967 borders.”
“Beyond the borders of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we all know the many regional and internal disputes that would complicate this proposed wider, collective regional security agreement from the war in Yemen, to the sanctions on Iran, to Syria’s humanitarian catastrophe driven by war-criminal leaders, to the conflict in Libya, to the blockade of Qatar,” he added.
“However, if each nation in the Middle East comes together in good faith and with a willingness to transparently commit, we can create a structured framework, with binding mechanisms and conflict resolution, where all states will be held accountable for achieving peace and sustaining security,” he added.
The FM called on each nation of the Middle East to say “enough is enough”, and take this critical first step towards regional development, reform, and integration.
He said the region needs their diplomatic help to get every Middle East country to the table, and to enforce international law.
“If we, the international community, seek to achieve global security and stability, we must preserve and strengthen the world order. We must go beyond managing crises, and instead utilise inclusive multilateral diplomacy to seek comprehensive and just solutions. We can only do this with binding mechanisms in accordance with the provisions of international law and resolutions, ultimately intended to protect civilians,” he added.
Munich
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani has reiterated the call of the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani for a binding regional security agreement in the Middle East and the need for cooperation to address collective threats.
“The crises in the Middle East were interconnected and require comprehensive solutions,” Sheikh Mohammed told a panel discussion during the 56th Munich Security Conference on de-escalation in the Gulf region.
The FM expressed Qatar’s belief that peace and stability will be restored only when the region’s countries agree to work together to reach consensus on key challenges, with regional players determining security-related affairs.
“Security will be a prerequisite to prosperity,” he said.
The FM noted that the Amir spoke at this same podium two years ago, and shed light on the critical challenges facing the Middle East and called for collective action to solve them.
He said everyone can agree that the Middle East desperately needs sustainable regional security agreements to ensure long-term stability, highlighting that Qatar has been ranked one of the safest countries in the world despite being located in a geographically turbulent region.
“As we scan the region for what’s needed, we see that a successful Middle East accord needs to be: 1. collective and binding, 2. based on agreed principles of security, developed with rules of governance, dispute resolution, and accountability, 3. respectful of sovereignty and equality among its members, and 4. a commitment to non-interference in internal affairs,” he said.
“It is precisely the manipulating interference, justified with political, social, and religious ideologies, that causes so much turmoil in the Middle East,” the FM said, adding that it was these repeated interferences by adventurous rulers with risky miscalculations that lead to devastating consequences.
Manipulating one another to achieve dominance, through direct or indirect interference, puts the region in a perpetual state of volatility, he said.
“Zero-sum games do not apply to diplomacy, especially in the Middle East.”
The FM further said, “Instead of applying exclusion or oppression, we have a greater chance of achieving long-term security through direct, accountable collaboration and dialogue within a regional security framework.”
“With foundational principles such as collective, binding, accountable, respectful, the regional members can agree on security rules. It will include modern security technology, such as early warning systems, CBMs, and establishing a non-proliferation zone; counterterrorism cooperation in stopping terrorist financing and money laundering, while enhancing intelligence sharing, with all parties operating with a clear non-politicised definition of terrorism; aviation and maritime security to ensure free and safe passage through the region; and a forum for dialogue on real, practical, and imminent threats.”
The FM stressed that any future economic and political dimensions must be built on fundamental security.
“Once we deliver basic stability to the Middle East, we can build enough trust and confidence with each other to advance regional trade, development, and the productive use of energy resources,” he said.
“We have seen first hand that security is a prerequisite for prosperity. Furthermore, stability for the wider Middle East cannot be a reality without a separate legitimate peace process made directly between Palestinians and Israelis. Their peace process must be comprehensive, just, and lasting, and must be based on international law and UN resolutions.”
The FM further added that the world continues to talk about occupation in the year 2020, stressing that “a genuine two-state solution is essential, so the long-oppressed Palestinian people finally receive the right to self-determination and right of return, with East-Jerusalem as their states capital, based on the 1967 borders.”
“Beyond the borders of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we all know the many regional and internal disputes that would complicate this proposed wider, collective regional security agreement from the war in Yemen, to the sanctions on Iran, to Syria’s humanitarian catastrophe driven by war-criminal leaders, to the conflict in Libya, to the blockade of Qatar,” he added.
“However, if each nation in the Middle East comes together in good faith and with a willingness to transparently commit, we can create a structured framework, with binding mechanisms and conflict resolution, where all states will be held accountable for achieving peace and sustaining security,” he added.
The FM called on each nation of the Middle East to say “enough is enough”, and take this critical first step towards regional development, reform, and integration.
He said the region needs their diplomatic help to get every Middle East country to the table, and to enforce international law.
“If we, the international community, seek to achieve global security and stability, we must preserve and strengthen the world order. We must go beyond managing crises, and instead utilise inclusive multilateral diplomacy to seek comprehensive and just solutions. We can only do this with binding mechanisms in accordance with the provisions of international law and resolutions, ultimately intended to protect civilians,” he added.
