The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, said that his country’s position is clear on the regime’s return to the Arab League, stressing that Doha will not normalize relations with the regime before finding a just solution to the Syrian issue.
The Qatari minister said in a press conference with his German counterpart that Doha did not want to deviate from the Arab consensus on restoring order to the Arab League, noting that his country had made its position clear since the beginning of the decision.
He said that the normalization of relations with the Syrian regime is a sovereign matter for each country, adding, “But the assessment of the State of Qatar regarding normalization with the regime, at least for us, is to find a comprehensive and just solution to the Syrian issue.”
The Qatari official stated that there is joint Arab action in which Doha agrees on the goals with the rest of the Arab countries, which is the safe return of Syrian refugees and finding a political solution in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
However, he stressed the existence of a discrepancy in the positions in the methodology to reach these goals between Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt, Iraq and Jordan, stressing the need for any step regarding normalization with the regime to contribute to achieving the goals.
He said, “In the end, the issue is not between us and the Syrian regime, but rather between the regime and its people, and the solution that is implemented to restore stability in Syria must satisfy this people who have suffered from the scourge of war for 12 years.”
For her part, German Foreign Minister Analina Birbock expressed regret that normalization with the Syrian regime took place without following the required steps, calling for a political process in Syria and for the Syrian people to live in safety.
The Arab foreign ministers had decided two weeks ago to return the Syrian regime to the Arab League, and to resume the participation of its delegations in the meetings of the League Council after its membership was frozen more than 11 years ago. However, the State of Qatar confirmed after the decision was taken that its position rejecting normalization with the Syrian regime has not changed.
