Under the patronage of the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani the US-Islamic World Forum kicked off here on Monday, and will continue for the next two days.

Addressing the opening session of the forum, Qatari Prime Minister and Interior Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani said that "the world, undoubtedly, is going through a crucial period that requires vigilance to cope with the developments and global and regional challenges, particularly those related to peace and security in more than one area in the world". "To face these challenges seriously, we must establish the principle of dialogue and justice and support the joint action. A dialogue shouldn't be directed only to discard differences and converge views, but it should be a sublime image of constructive cooperation in the face of incurable problems around the world, such as dangers that threat peace and security, failure to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, pollution problems, water shortages, desertification, poverty, and other issues", he said.

The US-Islamic World relations should not be limited on common interests, but partnership in humanity should also be upheld and strengthened to remove tensions and contradictions for a world of peace, security and stability and for the good of all humanity, he pointed out in his address, carried by Qatar News Agency (QNA).

He stressed that Islam is a religion that calls for peaceful coexistence with all human beings anywhere in the world and puts for that an accurate standard to ensure coexistence as described in the Holy Qur'an, and it holds the entire humanity the duty and responsibility of protecting human being, ensuring his security and stability and ensuring all his rights.

Regarding the achievement of Arab-Israeli peace, he said that "it is one of the pillars of the strategic relations with the United States". Nonetheless, he cautioned that "intransigent policies of the Israeli government by continuing the expansion of settlement operations and repeating attempts to attack Al-Aqsa Mosque as well as providing partial solutions that are not suitable to achieve the desired peace process have led to the suspension and the failure of peace negotiations in which the US exerted appreciated efforts". On the Syrian crisis, he pointed out that it poses a real threat to the unity of Syria and on the security and stability of the entire region, noting that the matter requires concerted efforts from the international community to stop the bloodshed and the displacement of Syrians and to achieve the legitimate aspirations of them.

 

"This crisis, in both its political and humanitarian sides, reveals the inability of the international community in finding a political solution so far, so it is incumbent on the international community, especially the Security Council, to act urgently and declare a decision of cease-fire for the security of the Syrian people and the stability of the entire region", he said.