(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Ambassador of Qatar to Philippines, Ali Ibrahim Al Malki has said that Qatar is ahead of many other countries in combating terrorism by all means.
'The State of Qatar has been ahead (of many others) in combating terrorism by all means. Note that the State of Qatar's position on terrorism is consistent. Qatar condemns all forms of terrorism whatever the causes or motives, he said in an interview with The Manila Times yesterday.
'Qatar is an active and leading member of international conventions committed to combating terrorism and its financing, at the regional and international levels.
'And the international community can attest to that, he said. The ambassador said that there was an existing cooperation and a broad and multilateral partnership between the State of Qatar and the United States on various issues, including terrorism and regional security.
'Qatar has enhanced this cooperation by signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on combating terrorism financing with the United States last July. It is so obvious for everyone at this point that if the Americans, who are leading the war against terrorism, are not satisfied enough with our efforts on this issue, they would not have joined us.
This alone should have silenced all the allegations of the four countries against Qatar, Al Malki told the Philippines newspaper.
To another question regarding the US role in resolving the Gulf crisis, he said: 'The US administration, since the start of the Gulf crisis, has a crucial role in the situation. We both share a common view in adopting dialogue as a means to resolve this crisis. Any dispute in this area will affect the entire regional peace and security.
He further said, 'The US was the first to call for lifting the unjust and illegal siege imposed on Qatar at the time that the four countries continued to ignore the American demand to open the crossing borders and land ports, as a gesture of good faith. The recent tour of two US envoys in the region to support the Kuwaiti mediation reflects the seriousness of the United States in reaching a solution to the crisis, especially after the speech made by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his last visit to the region last month, in which he also stated that telephone calls alone are not enough to achieve a breakthrough in the GCC crisis.
The Ambassador said that except for the woeful effects on some 30,000 Qatari families which had been 'torn apart by the measures imposed by the four countries, including Qatari college students who had been forcibly deported from these countries at the outbreak of the crisis, 'life goes on normally well in all of Qatar.
Al Malki pointed out that the action of the four countries against Qatar was 'not a simple blockade but a siege, and it had 'absolutely failed to bring Doha to its knees. 'Instead, it has increased our strength and pushed us to work harder for our country. Qatar is a state based on a solid foundation of values; the good leadership supported by its loyal people is at the top of them. It will continue to rise and move forward, he said.
The ambassador said that as a result of the siege, Qatar had been able to turn challenges into opportunities. 'It has managed to increase its trade volume through Hamad Port and develop alternative sea and land passages, along with sustainable food supply. At the same time, it has managed to enter into new economic cooperation agreements with some countries, and to diversify its sources of income and investments, said Al Malki.
He said that despite the refusal of the four countries to dialogue, the Emir had responded to the crisis with remarkable sobriety and statesmanship. 'His recent speech on the crisis was remarkably restrained, and well-received around the world. He rejected the accusation against Qatar, without wounding any of the leaders of the four Arab states.
Al Malki regretted the fact that despite the passage of over two months, the four countries had not been able 'to justify the siege that they imposed on Qatar, based on baseless allegations, followed by unrealistic and not actionable demands.
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