H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani, First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister lauded yesterday the efforts exerted by H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General in an attempt to calm down the situation and continuously follow-up development of events in the region. He also asserted the importance of Annan's tour in the region. This came in a joint press conference convened at the Emiri Diwan yesterday.
H.E. The First Deputy Prime Minister said that he discussed with Annan the situation in Lebanon and the current talks between Iran and the 5+1 group, the Israeli- Palestinian situation and the need for urgent and sustainable solutions to these issues since the temporary solutions proved to be creating serious and persistent problems.
H.E. also added that his discussions with the UN Secretary General also touched on the recent Resolution 1701 on Lebanon and the need for Israel and Lebanon to implement that resolution. H.E. condemned the maritime and airspace embargo imposed upon Lebanon by Israel, noting that it was a flagrant violation of Resolution 1701. H.E. said that Israel used to implement only the resolutions which it needs to implement and this escalates a continuous animosity to it in the region. He, however, expressed hope that there would be a change in the Israeli attitude so that a state of understanding with the Arab States could be reached, particularly in Lebanon.
H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister disclosed that the State of Qatar has decided to contribute troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). Qatar will contribute between 200 and 300 troops. H.E. the first Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister added that the Qatari contingent would signify an Arab presence in the Unifel while sending a message to Israel that Qatar believed in Un Security Council Resolution 1701and was serious about its implementation by all sides.
H.E. the First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister said in reply for a question posed about the Qatar Airways initiative to break the airspace embargo imposed by Israel on Lebanon that the Qatar Airway's maiden flight to Beirut was not to signify defiance to any party involved in the conflict, noting that no official airspace embargo was actually imposed by the United Nations and ,hence, the embargo imposed by Israel on Lebanon was a breach to UN Resolutions, including the recent Resolution 1701. He also explained that the flight was meant to alleviate the sufferings of many Lebanese families residing in the GCC States as well as the Lebanese who wished to resume their work in the region. H.E. asserted that the flight was not to signify defiance to any party involved in the conflict.
In reply to a question on whether there was an Arab initiative with a view to resuming peace process in the region, H.E. the First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister stated that such initiative was not new. The Arab states were seeking the assistance of the United Nations and Security Council in the implementation of past resolutions issued by the latter concerning the region and relating to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Answering a question about the delay in the departure of Qatar Airways' flight to Beirut H.E. the First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister said that he was not aware of that delay and that there might be certain technical issues relating to the flight, while asserting that the flight would take place.
H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani said that Qatar, along with Saudi Arabia and Egypt was not brokering a deal between any parties for the release of Israeli prisoner Galaad Shaleet as was suggested by some sources. " I cannot say that there is a bargain. There is some sort of communications to settle the crisis. However, I cannot say that we are mediators. We are only contributing to efforts in association with other parties to find a solution for this issue and secure the release of the Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of the Israeli prisoner.