Peninsula - 12/10/2006

Qatar has reiterated strong condemnation of all sorts of terrorism since it goes against all divine faiths and international accords.

This was stated by Khalid Fahd Al Shahwani, Second Secretary at the legal department at the Qatari Foreign Ministry and member of the Qatari delegation to the UN General Assembly while addressing the general assembly’s session on combating terrorism.

Al Hajiri voicing Qatar’s support to UN efforts to combat terrorism called for differentiating between struggle of peoples to restore their independence and oust the occupier of their territories and between terrorism.

Qatar had supported the UNstrategy on combating terrorism which the General Assembly had earlier approved, despite the fact this strategy ignored very important issues most important of which is the differentiating between armed struggle of peoples under occupation and terrorist attacks, and also ignored state terrorism which is considered one of the most grave threats strong countries could pose to weaker countries, he said.

Al Shawani said Qatar was closely following up international legal, political and other efforts directed at reaching a comprehensive antiterrorism agreement. Qatar sees that an anti-terrorism comprehensive agreement should stand on three principles, the first of which is that countries should reach a common formula that could contribute to concluding such an agreement, taking into consideration differentiating between peoples liberation struggle and terrorism, he said.

Elaborating on the second principle, Al Shahwani said Qatar is of the opinion that force alone is not enough for combating terrorism because violence leads to more violence and war leads to another war.

He said among other peaceful means to combat terrorism is relieving people of the injustice inflicted upon them and restoring their rights together with ending occupation of others land, narrowing the economic gap between the rich and the poor, allowing freedom of expression and spreading democracy.

On the third principle, Al Shahwani spoke about continuing international efforts to consolidate dialogue and understanding among civilistions, to prevented abuse of religions and cultures.