Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN, said that the Syrian people continued to bear the disastrous effects of the ongoing Syrian crisis, particularly the difficult situation of the Syrian refugees and displaced persons.
Speaking at the official meeting of the UN Security Council on the Situation in the Middle East on Wednesday, al-Thani said that “the humanitarian response is essential.” She noted that “the only way to end this suffering and put an end to the threats to international peace and security caused by the crisis is by reaching the desired political solution that meets the aspirations of the entire Syrian people.”
Moreover, the Qatari diplomat underscored that a solution in Syria needs to be “in accordance with the Geneva Declaration and the resolutions of the Security Council, including resolution 2254, in a manner that preserves Syria’s national, regional and sovereign unity and independence.”
She also stressed the importance of accountability for the crimes being committed in Syria. She added that until a political transition and national reconciliation are achieved, accountability for crimes in violation of international law and international humanitarian law must be achieved. She drew attention to the aggravation of the current situation of Syrian refugees due to the cold winter.
Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in mid-January said that his country has no intention to normalize ties with the Syrian regime, accusing it of committing “war crimes” against its people.
“Normalization of ties with the Syrian regime at this point would mean normalization of ties with a red-handed person in war crimes, a fact that is not acceptable,” Al Thani said at a press conference in the capital Doha. The Qatari minister also said that the Assad regime should not return to the Arab League.
The Arab League suspended the membership of the Assad regime in the body in November 2011 in response the regime’s brutal crackdown on the peaceful demonstrators. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
