Qatar Amir's United Nations speech draws flak

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Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Dubai - Sheikh Tamim pinpointed that Doha turned to Iran rather than its Arab neighbours, to discuss a solution to a crisis.

By Team KT

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Published: Thu 21 Sep 2017, 11:28 PM

Last updated: Sat 23 Sep 2017, 9:30 AM

The speech delivered by the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, before the United Nations in New York has disappointed watchdogs and observers in the region.
In his speech, Sheikh Tamim pinpointed that Doha turned to Iran rather than its Arab neighbours, to discuss a solution to a crisis that his regime brought about when it supported and financed terrorism.
The Amir of Qatar called on countries in the region for "holding a dialogue with Iran, respect the sovereignty of countries, and not to interfere in their domestic affairs".
Observers described Sheikh Tamim's address as 'disappointing', after he affirmed that he would continue his relations with Iran, which is considered the major supporter of terrorism in the region, because Iran constantly intervene in the domestic affairs of its neighbours, and supports various terror groups.
Speaking to Sky News Arabia, Qatari opposition figure Ali Al Dahneem said the speech of Shaikh Tamim was "trivial and disappointing to the GCC peoples in general and the Qatari people in particular".
Al Dahneem said Sheikh Tamim spoke about terrorism as if Doha is a victim, not a major funder of terrorism.
He denounced Sheikh Tamim's speech when he described what he called the persistence of the Qatari people against what he described as 'blockade' by the four Arab boycotting countries.
He said that the Qatari people resent the internal situation in Qatar, which pushed expatriate labourers to move out of the country.
Columnist AbdulAziz Al Khamis, described Sheikh Tamim's address before the UN as 'contradictory and unconvincing'. He said Sheikh Tamim talked about the demands of the four boycotting countries saying they damage the interests of Qatar, while in fact the Qatari policy has never stopped intervening in the sovereignty of many courtiers.
Al Khamis said Sheikh Tamim tackled the destabilisation of Qatar and forgot to mention that he and his regime are the masters of destabilisation in the Arab world and other regions.
"The Qatari role in supporting terrorism has been publicly slammed by major powers such as the US, which was very clear in the speech given by President Donald Trump, not only by the four boycotting countries," Al Khamis added.
For his part, editor-in-chief of Al Ain news portal Ali Al Nuaimi said that Sheikh Tamim was supposed to send real messages to the world in general and his people in particular regarding a change in his current policies that back terrorism.
"Sheikh Tamim's address is continuity to the policy of dodging and misleading, which Doha has adopted for the past 20 years," Al Nuaimi pointed out.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
 
 
 


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