A News Agency

Qatar participated in a high-level meeting on compliance with international law held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Qatar was represented at the meeting by Adviser to the Prime Minister and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari.

Al Ansari emphasized Qatar’s commitment to the United Nations Charter and the principles of international law, drawing attention to the importance of the sovereign equality of states and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Al Ansari said the credibility of the international legal system depends on its consistent application without selectivity or double standards, adding, “Accountability for violations of international law is of great importance.”

In this context, Al Ansari drew particular attention to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, reiterating the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establish an independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Al Ansari said the ongoing violations against the Palestinian people must end in order to restore trust in international institutions, adding that Palestinians suffer daily because of the expansion of the occupation and the denial of basic rights necessary for life.

Al Ansari pointed to restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid, ongoing assassinations and daily attacks, as well as attacks on health workers, humanitarian workers and journalists, stressing that those responsible for violations should not go unpunished.

Al Ansari said Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani had also clearly set out this principle in his address to the United Nations General Assembly, adding that the international community must demonstrate its seriousness in protecting values and the rule of law.

Al Ansari said, “The law must be applied equally to everyone. Otherwise, when it is applied to the weak while the powerful are exempt from it, it loses its meaning.”

Al Ansari said Qatar’s positions in line with international law and international legitimacy are closely linked to the country’s diplomatic approach, adding that mediation and the peaceful settlement of disputes are among the fundamental elements of Qatari foreign policy.

Al Ansari said Qatar’s efforts are not limited to mediating between conflicting parties and facilitating dialogue to reach peaceful solutions, but also include efforts to alleviate humanitarian suffering caused by wars and natural disasters, as well as support for human development efforts in numerous countries in the region and beyond.

Emphasizing that peace cannot be the monopoly of a single state or group of states, Al Ansari said, “Peace is the responsibility of the entire world.”

He said that to achieve global peace, joint action must be strengthened and global peace supply chains should be developed through which the elements of peace can be created and brought together via multilateral mechanisms and international partnerships.

Al Ansari said Qatar would continue to support international law, multilateral cooperation, dialogue and peaceful solutions in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.