QNA
Doha
His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani patronised the opening of the 3rd Asian Cooperation Dialogue Summit, which is being held under the title "Sports Diplomacy,” on Thursday at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel - Doha.
HH the Amir stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to contain the escalation and tension and to stem the bloodshed by resorting to rational dialogue and the rules of international law.
In a speech, HH the Amir said, " This summit is held under the theme: "Sports Diplomacy”, which was chosen to express our firm belief that enhancing sports and cooperation in this regard is closely consistent with the vision of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue 2030, and out of our conviction in the importance of sports for the health of individuals and societies, and its role in promoting peace, spreading the values of tolerance and mutual respect, and dispelling stereotypes and preconceived ideas.”
HH the Amir added, "We look forward to concretize this theme into a tangible reality that will reflect positively on our peoples and countries.”
"We believe in the importance of intensifying efforts to contain the escalation and tension and to stem the bloodshed by resorting to rational dialogue, the rules of international law, the United Nations Charter, the international legitimacy resolutions, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states and noninterference in their internal affairs in a way that guarantees the right for all countries and peoples to live in security, peace, and dignity,” HH the Amir said.
HH the Amir noted that the summit is being held amidst challenges and tensions facing the international community, many of whose institutions have been marginalised, while the endemic violations and unaddressed elephant in the room crimes have made it appear as if it is devoid of international law and its values.
"The world is still witnessing a dangerous escalation in the war waged by the Israeli occupation authorities against our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories. The defenceless civilians are targeted by nonstop aerial bombings that led to the killing of tens of thousands of innocent victims, children, women and men.”
HH the Amir said that the toll exceeded 41,000 martyrs, in addition to the targeting of the headquarters of international organisations and destroying residential, health and educational infrastructure, and all facilities necessary for survival.
It has become crystal clear that what is happening is genocide in addition to transforming the Gaza Strip into an area unfit for human habitation in preparation for forced displacement. "On this occasion, we renew our rejection and condemnation of the aerial strikes and escalating military operations unleashed by the Israeli occupation forces against the sisterly Lebanese Republic recently, which claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians who committed no error, and displaced more than a million citizens,” HH the Amir added.
"Israel is exploiting the international failure to implement the occupation plans to expand settlements in the West Bank in preparation for annexing it, or at least annexing parts of it. Its rulers also believe that they can avail themselves of this opportunity to implement its schemes in Lebanon. The institutions of the international community stand helplessly by vis-a-vis this dangerous escalation of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, which is spilling over day after day, in flagrant violation of all international norms and laws.”
HH the Amir continued, "We have previously warned of the consequences of not holding Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity and its refusal to implement the resolutions of international legitimacy on ending the occupation and resolving the Palestinian issue justly.”
"This has prompted it to heedlessly disregard the international law, and gave its rulers a free hand in Palestine and Lebanon. We call for serious action to cease fire and stop the aggression carried out by the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territories.”
HH the Amir added, "Security will not be achieved without achieving just peace, and this in turn will not be achieved in our region without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, based on pre-June 4th 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.”
HH the Amir said, "The State of Qatar will continue to uphold the Palestinian rights and support its people to obtain all their legitimate rights.”
HH the Amir further said, "The Asian continent occupies an important position, geopolitically and economically, in addition to its prominent impact on global trade as the largest continent that contains strategic energy reserves, global markets and stock exchanges that are the largest of their kind worldwide, as well as its enormous human resources.”
"In order to leverage the comparative advantages of each country, we must work to strengthen the synergy between our countries in various fields by identifying common strengths, exploring opportunities and putting forward proposals aimed at developing our societies,” HH the Amir added.
HH the Amir said, "In conclusion, I would like to thank the General Secretariat for its efforts to reach a final version of Doha Declaration due to be adopted at this summit, in addition to following up on the implementation of previous dialogue resolutions and the good preparation for this summit, which we hope will achieve its desired goals. We also wish the friendly Kingdom of Thailand every success during its presidency of the dialogue next year.
President of the State of Palestine HE Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran HE Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Republic of Tajikistan HE Emomali Rahmon, HH Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, HH Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand HE Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and a number ofheads of delegations of sisterly and friendly countries and governments attended the opening.
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also attended the opening along with the ministers and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the state, senior officials and representatives of several regional and international organizations.
Later, HH the Amir attended the luncheon banquet held for the heads of sisterly and friendly states and governments participating in the 3rd Asian Cooperation Dialogue Summit, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel - Doha.