SAUDI ARABIA

Qatar must stop supporting terror, Jubeir tells UN

September 23, 2017
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir

New York -- Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir reiterated on Saturday that Qatar’s support for terrorism has destabilized the region and Doha must stop its financing of terror groups.

Speaking at the United Nations 72nd General Assembly in New York, Jubeir repeated the Anti-Terror Quartet’s demands that Qatar abide by the Riyadh agreements it had made, including that it stops financing terrorism in the region and meddling in the internal affairs of other countries.

In the agreements made with other GCC countries, Qatar committed to halting actions that would undermine the stability of the Arabian Gulf, including its support of the Muslim Brotherhood and extremist groups. Doha also agreed to not interfere in the internal affairs of other GCC members.

Referring to terrorism as “the biggest challenge facing the world" in his speech, Jubeir said Qatar was jeapordising Saudi Arabia's policy of combating extremism and terror financing.

“Doha’s practices of financial support to terror while disseminating hate speech is unacceptable, and so is providing safe havens to those who violated the law and should be brought to justice,” he said, adding that Riyadh “will continue to counter terrorism in all forms and manifestations”.

Jubeir also spoke on the ongoing crisis in Yemen, in which he said that the Houthi militia takeover of the country with the support of Iran represents a threat to the region.

Jubeir said, however, that a “military solution will not end the crisis in Yemen”.

"We are helping the legal government of Yemen, this was not a choice for us,” he said, referring to the Saudi-led coalition's efforts to restore the Yemeni government of president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi to power.

Still, he reaffirmed Saudi support for “the political process in Yemen” and stood by UN efforts to resolve the conflict.

Repression against Rohingya condemned

The foreign minister also strongly condemned the Myanmar government's policy of repression and displacement against the Rohingya Muslims.

Such action by the government authorities in Myanmar requires urgent reaction on the side of the international community to protect the Rohingya, he said.

Jubeir said Saudi Arabia provided $15 million to help meet the needs of the Rohingya refugees who fled to neighboring countries fearing repression.

The international community had already voiced concern over the plight of the Rohingya and called upon the government of Myanmar to stop the assault against the Muslim minority, and to allow them return home.

The 15-minute speech coincided with Saudi Arabia's National Day, something Jubeir referenced in his opening remarks.

“At a time when my country is celebrating its national holiday, I address you as a messenger of a state that has placed its people as its first priority” and “created partnerships around the world”, he said.

The foreign minister defined peace and security as key pillars driving both Saudi domestic policy and foreign policy.

Turning to regional crises, Jubeir addressed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, describing it as “the most protracted conflict in our region" of which "nothing can justify continuation”.

He urged the international community to come together around a two-state solution and make “concrete progress” in “establishing independent of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital on the 1967 border”.


September 23, 2017
436 views
HIGHLIGHTS
SAUDI ARABIA
7 hours ago

Bangladeshi pilgrim saved after falling unconscious at Grand Mosque courtyard

SAUDI ARABIA
9 hours ago

Saudi Aramco Chief: We should abandon the fantasy of phasing out oil and gas

SAUDI ARABIA
10 hours ago

Ministries of foreign and culture agree for collaboration in strategic cultural projects