Qatari Foreign Minister calls for halting normalization of relations with Damascus
Posted: 12 Nov 2021, 12:54
Qatari Foreign Minister calls for halting normalization of relations with Damascus
Washington: Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani expressed on Friday his hope to halt the normalization of relations with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in statements following the visit of his Emirati counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed to Damascus.
"We hope that countries will not be encouraged to take additional steps towards the Syrian regime," the Qatari minister said during a joint press conference in Washington with his American counterpart, Anthony Blinken.
For his part, Blinken reiterated the United States' concern over normalization with the Assad regime.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani added that "Qatar's position will remain the same. We do not see any serious steps by the Assad regime that show its commitment to repairing the damage it has inflicted on his country and people."
And he added, "As long as no serious step is taken, we believe that changing the situation is not a viable option."
But the Qatari minister also said other countries had a "sovereign right" to make their own decisions on Syria.
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are close allies of the United States and have had differences in recent years.
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, in a clear indication of momentum to restore relations amid growing conviction that Assad has won the devastating decade-long civil war that has left nearly half a million people dead.
"We are concerned about the signals some of these visits and engagements are sending," Blinken added.
"I would simply like to urge all of our partners to remember the crimes that the Assad regime has committed and continues to commit," he added.
The administration of President Joe Biden has focused on humanitarian relief in Syria rather than military solutions, but it has vowed not to normalize with the regime and continues to press for a peaceful settlement.
The Caesar Act, a US law that took effect last year, imposes sanctions on anyone who cooperates with Assad to rebuild Syria, as part of an effort to encourage accountability for rights abuses.
Washington: Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani expressed on Friday his hope to halt the normalization of relations with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in statements following the visit of his Emirati counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed to Damascus.
"We hope that countries will not be encouraged to take additional steps towards the Syrian regime," the Qatari minister said during a joint press conference in Washington with his American counterpart, Anthony Blinken.
For his part, Blinken reiterated the United States' concern over normalization with the Assad regime.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani added that "Qatar's position will remain the same. We do not see any serious steps by the Assad regime that show its commitment to repairing the damage it has inflicted on his country and people."
And he added, "As long as no serious step is taken, we believe that changing the situation is not a viable option."
But the Qatari minister also said other countries had a "sovereign right" to make their own decisions on Syria.
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are close allies of the United States and have had differences in recent years.
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, in a clear indication of momentum to restore relations amid growing conviction that Assad has won the devastating decade-long civil war that has left nearly half a million people dead.
"We are concerned about the signals some of these visits and engagements are sending," Blinken added.
"I would simply like to urge all of our partners to remember the crimes that the Assad regime has committed and continues to commit," he added.
The administration of President Joe Biden has focused on humanitarian relief in Syria rather than military solutions, but it has vowed not to normalize with the regime and continues to press for a peaceful settlement.
The Caesar Act, a US law that took effect last year, imposes sanctions on anyone who cooperates with Assad to rebuild Syria, as part of an effort to encourage accountability for rights abuses.