🇶🇦Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al ThaniQatar · UNGA 81 speech

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful, your excellency, president of the general assembly, your excellency, secretary general, ladies and gentlemen, may the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you. I extend my congratulations to his excellency, mister Khalil Rahman, on his assumption of the presidency of this session, and wish him every success. I also thank her excellency, miss Anna Lena Beabok, for her efforts in presiding over the work of the previous session. I would also like to commend the efforts and endeavors of His Excellency, Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General, throughout his term of office. I would also like to express our appreciation to the staff of the United Nations system for their efforts amid difficult and complex circumstances. I stand before you today at a time when our region is going through one of its most dangerous phases. You are all aware of the dimensions of the crisis in the Gulf and its repercussions on the entire world. The crisis we are currently facing should come as no surprise to anyone. It is the cumulative result of years of postponing crisis management through temporary solutions and unrealistic policies. Our perspective has always been that the way to resolve disputes is through dialogue and negotiations to reach just fair solutions grounded in international law, grounded in respect for the sovereignty of states and the rights of peoples. This remains our position in the aftermath of the wars we've been witnessing. The state of Qatar, through its role as a trusted mediator and peace facilitators, has consistently warned that time does not resolve lingering conflicts in the absence of a just settlement, rather it doubles their costs. Ladies and gentlemen, at the heart of the dangerous situation we're witnessing lies the absence of a regional system of collective security, one that respects the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of states, one that promotes the peaceful settlement of disputes and the non-interference in the internal affairs of states. We have previously called from this very podium for the establishment of such a system, and we reiterate that call after recent events have demonstrated the urgent need for it. In the absence of such a system, it has become possible for a war to erupt. Owing to considerations unrelated to the interests of the countries of the region, it has become possible for one party to drag its neighbors into a war that is not theirs, targeting their vital assets and installations, despite their strenuous efforts to avert escalation. It has become possible for an international waterway, through which nearly a quarter of the world's energy trade passes, to be closed. It has also become possible for the lifelines of the global economy to be turned into tools of pressure and bargaining, with people on every continent bearing the cost, despite being far removed from the causes of the conflict. This is a crisis that drives up the prices of food and medicine and affects the livelihoods of peoples who have nothing to do with any of this. Despite all those developments, which could have been avoided. We remain deeply convinced, and our conviction is based on realistic considerations, convinced that the crisis in the Gulf can be resolved through diplomatic means, by reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation and returning to negotiations in order to avert war, paving the way toward a lasting solution that ensures security and stability for the entire region, including Iran, while opening prospects for cooperation across various fields and ensuring non-interference in the internal affairs of states. The opportunity for a peaceful diplomatic solution, which we believe is both possible and realistic, must not be missed. Your Excellencies, while we're doing everything within our power to address the situation through diplomatic efforts, we have strengthened our steadfastness to defend our sovereignty, our territory, and our people, and the foundations of normalcy. We have devised resilient, flexible economic plans and remain committed to our development projects, despite the severe adverse impact of the war and the heavy price it has exacted. At every juncture and in every crisis, we have chosen to combine resilience with flexibility and to place the interests of our nation, our people, and those residing on our soil above all else. Our values are not mere slogans we proclaim, but a reality we live by. They are values that we put into practice. At their core is the conviction that the dignity of the nation cannot be compromised. and that wisdom and firmness are two sides of the same coin. This approach is firmly anchored in our nation. This approach has been championed by the leaders of Qatar, from the founder, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, to His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, our Emir from 1995 to 2013. May Allah have mercy on his soul. He passed away this year and was mourned with profound affection and gratitude by his people and all peace-loving nations people across the region and around the world. On this occasion, I would like to thank the United Nations General Assembly for convening a special session in honor of his memory and in recognition of his legacy. The experiences and challenges we have confronted have demonstrated that resilience is the outcome of prior planning, preparedness, and investment in people and national capabilities. Accordingly, over the years, We have worked on assessing risks, securing supply chains, strengthening the capabilities of our national institutions, developing strategic reserves, and forging trusted international partnerships. Recognizing the nexus of peace, security, development, human rights, and the rule of law, the State of Qatar maintains its investment in development, education, health, security, and economic diversification in conformity with the Qatar National Vision 2030. Your Excellencies, There can be no talk of a just international order as long as Palestine remains a blind spot within it. What has transpired in Gaza is genocide in every sense of the word and a stain of shame on the conscience of humanity as a whole. Future generations will be astonished by the enormous gap between the scale of the catastrophe and the level of the international response to stop it. Yet the catastrophe persists. And Israeli leaders have now begun to openly proclaim that the most appropriate solution is to displace the population, which they call migration. When the extent of global public revulsion at the practices of the Israeli occupation becomes evident, Instead of looking in the mirror, they resort to hurling accusations indiscriminately in all directions, at times invoking accusations of anti-Semitism and at others resorting to conspiracy theories and accusing other powers and states of being responsible for creating their negative image. It's as though there were no means of communication, as though Israeli soldiers had not boasted through both sound and visuals of their crimes. And as though images of the crimes against humanity committed in Gaza had not been circulated by an entire generation of young people across the world, east and west, from the very first day, the state of Qatar has done its utmost as a mediator to stem the bloodshed, to alleviate the suffering of civilians, and to release the prisoners and detainees until a ceasefire was achieved. Today, we continue our efforts to consolidate it and to move towards lasting peace. As Palestinian factions agreed to arrangements for the collection of weapons as stipulated in the agreement, Israel, for its part, must fully honor its commitments in their entirety: a definitive cessation of operations, withdrawal from the Strip, lifting of the blockade and the unconditional delivery of humanitarian assistance. We fear that those

To regard displacement as the solution will obstruct anything that could ease the lives of the population because this would strengthen their resilience on their land. The international community bears a direct responsibility to press for implementation and to ensure that the agreement's implementation does not remain contingent upon the calculations of a party accustomed to reneging on its commitments whenever circumstances allow it to act with impunity on the ground. The continued persecution, apartheid, and settler terrorism in the occupied West Bank, and the desecration of Islamic and Christian holy sites, foremost among them the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, denying the Palestinian people their rights, most notably their inalienable right to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. All this remains an open wound. Israeli aggression, marked by arrogance and hubris, has expanded to encompass neighboring countries, affecting the security of the region as a whole. Israel continues its blatant attacks against Syria and is occupying more Syrian territories and adding them to the Golan heights which it has occupied since 1967, without even bothering to provide any justification other than its own assessment of the nature of the political system that emerged there in Syria after the removal of the previous regime. As though it maintains tutelage over the countries of the region, it publicly declares that it is not bound by its understandings with Lebanon. It insists on continuing its occupation of Lebanese territories and seeks to assume a policing role there. Its destruction of entire villages in southern Lebanon in broad daylight is reminiscent of its history in Palestine. Dealing with Israel, putting an end to the harm it causes, and restraining its unlawful conduct constitute the true tests of the international community's seriousness in upholding values and the rule of law. The law must apply equally to all. When it binds the vulnerable but spares the powerful, it loses its meaning. Ladies and gentlemen, your excellencies, in our Arab region, we reaffirm that comprehensive development and the establishment of state institutions are two fundamental pillars for realizing the aspirations of peoples and achieving security and stability in the region. The vestiges of civil conflicts in some countries and the presence of armed forces operating outside the control of the state must be eliminated. The state's monopoly over legitimate arms is among the most important foundations of the state, and it is what guarantees the ability to legislate and enforce the rule of law. Concerning brotherly Syria, we stand with its people during the phase of recovery and reconstruction. We support its state institutions, sovereignty, independence, and national and territorial integrity. to fulfill the aspirations of the Syrian people to stability, development, and dignity based on equal citizenship. In Brotherly Sudan, we call for an inclusive dialogue that leads to sustainable peace. and that maintains the unity and sovereignty of the state. In brotherly Libya, we support the political process, reconciliation efforts, and the unification of state institutions. In brotherly Somalia, we reiterate our firm support for its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. In brotherly Lebanon, we support its state institutions and its sovereignty over its entire territory. We condemn the Israeli attacks against Lebanon, and we stress the need to uphold the fire and to uphold Security Council Resolution 1701. In brotherly Yemen, we support United Nations efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive political settlement based on the outcomes of the national dialogue facilitated by the United Nations in a manner that preserves Yemen's unity and sovereignty and achieves security and stability. Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the state of Qatar goes beyond serving as a mediator and facilitating dialogue among parties in conflict in pursuit of peaceful solutions. We also make efforts to address the humanitarian suffering of people caused by wars and natural disasters, while supporting human development in numerous countries across our region and beyond. This combination of safeguarding our vital interests, pursuing our proven, valued, and internationally recognized role in mediation and humanitarian action, and upholding principled positions consistent with international law and international legitimacy constitutes the foundation of our foreign policy, with these four elements as its essential components. Qatar will remain an open realm for dialogue and cultural interaction among peoples and for the exchange of views and experiences. We continue to contribute to international initiatives that bring peoples together and support development. In this spirit, Doha is preparing to host the fourth Global Disability Summit in 2028, reaffirming our commitment to empowering persons with disabilities and building inclusive societies. Qatar will also host the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in recognition of the role of sports in building bridges of communication and bringing people closer together. The expansion of the United Nations House in Doha marks a continuation of our long-standing partnership with the international organization. It enhances its capacity to fulfill its mission of serving peace, development, and human rights. peaceful coexistence and dialogue are not merely one option among many. They are the only path that leaves neither a victor nor a vanquished. For this reason, we renew our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations and its purposes. We affirm that the State of Qatar will always strive for peace and facilitates its achievement. Thank you. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.