Qatari emir slams ‘unjust’ Saudi-led siege in UN speech
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Aal-e Thani has sharply denounced the Saudi-led bloc of countries for imposing an “unjust” blockade against his nation, saying such pressure tactics amount to “terrorism.”
“I stand before you while my country and my people are subjected to an ongoing and unjust blockade imposed since June 5 by neighboring countries,” Sheikh Tamim said in an address to the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
In one of the worst diplomatic dispute to hit the Persian Gulf region in decades, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and slapped an economic embargo on the country, accusing it of supporting terrorism.
Doha rejects the allegation and suggests it is being targeted because it has been following foreign policies that are more independent of the Riyadh regime.
The boycotting states have issued a list of demands for Qatar to meet in order for the dispute to be resolved, but Doha has refused to comply with them, slamming the demands as an attack on its sovereignty.
“The countries who imposed the blockade on the State of Qatar interfere in the internal affairs of many countries, and accuse all those who oppose them domestically and abroad with terrorism. By doing they are inflicting damage on the war on terror,” the Qatari emir said.
Sheikh Tamim highlighted Qatar’s resistance in the face of the Saudi-led bloc’s excessive demands and said Doha has “refused to yield to dictations by pressure and siege.”
The blockade was meant to put pressure on Qataris via “foodstuffs, medicine and ripping off consanguineous relations to force them change their political affiliation to destabilize a sovereign country,” he said in a 22-minute address. “Isn’t this one of the definitions of terrorism?” Sheikh Tamim asked.
The Sheikh further called for “for an unconditional dialogue based on mutual respect for sovereignty” to end the diplomatic crisis gripping the Persian Gulf region.
SS
