(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar's participation in the military operation in Yemen aims at restoring stability and legitimacy, Qatar's Ambassador to the US Mohamed Jaham al-Kuwari said.
Speaking at McDaniel College and the International Club of Annapolis, the ambassador identified four basic steps to resolve the conflict in Yemen: stop destabilisation, reinstall the legitimate government, increase international support and reconstruction efforts, involve all parties concerned and start a national dialogue.
On Syria, al-Kuwari stressed the need for the Syrian people to decide their own destiny, adding that the departure of Bashar al-Assad would represent the first step for a lasting solution in Syria, and that his continuation in power means the continuation of the cycle of violence.
The ambassador reviewed Qatar's stance on the crucial issues in the Middle East including the Iranian nuclear agreement, the situation in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, and the recent refugee crisis.
Al-Kuwari said Qatar's diplomacy is active on two fronts: political, and that includes its mediations in regional conflicts, and humanitarian, which especially includes mediating for the release of hostages in zones of regional combat.
Because of the complicated situation in the region, the ambassador noted these efforts attract some criticism and questions, most notably on the issue of ransom payments and the financing of terrorism. Qatar was aware of these criticisms, "but we will not allow them to undermine our confidence," especially since the aim of this mediation is to help in the difficult humanitarian issues and to reach a settlement.
Al-Kuwari spoke about the sectarian problem caused by the region's conflicts, noting that it has deep causes and cannot be summed up in one perspective.
He underlined the need to resolve the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution, end to the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, withdrawal to the borders of pre-1967, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
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