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The failure of UN Security Council to press for sanctions on Israel, as it did with some other countries, reflects its double standards, Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani said yesterday.

The Prime Minister said that the inability of UN Security Council to resolve several disputes has resulted in the failure of the collective security system and this would lead to creation of an environment favourable to violence and instability. 

He was addressing the 15th Doha Forum and Enriching the Middle East’s Economic Future Conference, which Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani opened at the Doha Sheraton last evening.

The Prime Minister said that it was regrettable that the Security Council did not shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities to maintain international peace and security and to put an end to settlements, oppression and destruction, arrests and siege pursued by Israel. 

“The Council did nothing towards these Israeli practices and did not press or threaten to impose sanctions on Israel, as it did with other countries where less aggressive acts were committed. This reflects the double standards in dealing with peoples’ issues, and is contrary to international law and costs the international community its credibility,” he said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that there will be no peace and stability in the region until there is an end to Israeli occupation and giving the Palestinian people their rights, including the right to establish their own independent State, with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital on the 1967 borders in accordance with the  legitimate Arab and international decisions.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Advisory Council Speaker Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi, Iraqi Vice-President Iyad Allawi, Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, Former President of Tunisia Moncef Marzouki and a number of other dignitaries.

H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani said that the international community, especially the  Security Council  has also failed to end the Syrian crisis despite the continued suffering of the Syrian people due to the destruction, genocide and displacement carried out by the Syrian regime.

He called on the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities and take the necessary legal measures to preserve the security of the Syrian people and realise their legitimate aspiration according to Geneva 1 conference’s decisions. The Prime Minister stressed that the phenomenon of terrorism poses a real threat to international peace and security and damages the economies of target countries. 

Terrorism hinders sustainable development of nations, he said, pointing to the events which took place recently in many countries in the Middle East and the world and claiming lives of innocent people and disrupting the process of development.

“More than ever, the international community is required to strengthen cooperation to eliminate this phenomenon by tackling the roots of organised violence represented in extreme poverty, blatant non-equality and disrespect for human rights as well as political and sectarian exclusion,” said the Prime Minister. 

He said if fighting against terrorism is confined to security and military solutions, peace will remain an unachievable mission.

He added that there must be a clear distinction between terrorism and the legitimate rights of people in the struggle for freedom and legitimate rights.

The Prime Minister said that realising peoples’ aspirations leads to provision of security as well as political and social stability, thus achieving comprehensive development. This requires large investments which are not accessible to poor countries.

He said Qatar has fulfilled all its international commitments in development assistance to the countries of the region and the world. Concluding his speech, the Prime Minister said: 

“We are aware of the great importance of the issues and topics to be discussed in this forum, and we look forward to its positive and fruitful results.”