Normalisation of ties with Assad regime not an option for Qatar: FM

Tribune News Network Doha In a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Saturday, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister an...

Tribune News NetworkDohaIn a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Saturday, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said normalisation of ties with Syria’s Bashar Al-Assad regime is “not an option”.He said Assad need to be held accountable for the war crimes he committed against his people.Blinken echoed similar sentiments when he said the US does not support normalisation with the Assad regime.He said the US was concerned about the signals being sent by UAE officials’ visits and interactions with Syria, and urged countries not to forget the crimes committed by the Assad regime.Expressing hope that all countries would “unite when it comes to Syria”, Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar supported the pursuit of a political and a peaceful solution in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.Urging countries not to undermine the misery the Syrian people continue to face, he called on them to take “their own values into account when it comes to their relations with other [nations]”.“Qatar’s position will remain as it is, as Qatar does not see any serious steps taken by Assad regime to repair the damage caused to its country and people, and as a result, changing Qatar position is not a viable option.”Sheikh Mohammed also warned against abandoning Afghanistan. He said isolation was not a solution and engagement was the only way forward.The priority of Qatar is to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the Afghan people, especially with the approach of winter, and the facilitation of it runs smoothly, he said. He also urged the Taliban to live up to their commitments.Qatar is in constant consultation with the United States, he said, noting that the two countries agree on the importance of meeting the needs of the Afghan people and ensuring their safety and protection from violence.Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar lays great emphasis on providing food supplies, medicines and health care services, and ensuring the continuity of schools in Afghanistan. He said Qatar and the US must also ensure that the deserving people are evacuated from Afghanistan . Qatar undertakes this responsibility and checks each evacuee from a security point of view. Shiekh Mohammed said some people could be accepted without their passports provided they present their genuine documents. Qatar is careful not to evacuate the wrong people who may harm others in other countries, he added.Regarding the inclusion of the Taliban in the sanctions lists, the Qatari minister said the issue was not in hands of Qatar. It’s a UN Security Council decision and it had its reasons at the time, he said.