Source: Government of Qatar
Your Excellency Antonio Costa, President of the European Council,
Your Excellency Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
I would like to thank the European Union for convening this important meeting in light of the current developments and circumstances in the region.
The meeting is being held at a critical juncture both for the Gulf region and the EU and with serious impacts worldwide.
In this regard, we express our strong condemnation of the targeting of our territory with Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. It is a flagrant violation of our national sovereignty, a direct infringement on our security and territorial integrity, and an unacceptable escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region.
We also condemn in the strongest terms the attacks against sovereign territories: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Jordan, Iraq, Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Cyprus.
We affirm Qatar’s full solidarity with these countries in all the measures they take to preserve their sovereignty, security, and stability.
These attacks undermine the principles of mediation and dialogue that the Sultanate of Oman has consistently upheld and promoted in the region.
We also appreciate the statement issued by the European Union, which reflects the strength of relations between the GCC countries and the European Union and calls for de-escalation and the commitment of the European Union and its member states to protecting regional security and stability, especially energy security and ensuring freedom of navigation in accordance with international rules of passage for commercial and civilian vessels
What is happening today does not affect just one country but threatens the security of the entire region and exposes global energy markets and supply chains to grave risks.
In this context, we call for the freedom of navigation to be safeguarded for commercial and civilian vessels, consistent with the rules of international transit.
Despite the challenges, the State of Qatar affirms its unwavering commitment as a reliable partner in ensuring global energy security and the stability of its supplies, through close cooperation that preserves common regional security.
The strikes targeted sovereign territory, endangered civilian populations, and damaged civilian infrastructure.
Because of these unjustified attacks, thousands of EU citizens are stranded in Qatar. We are coordinating with the relevant parties to ensure the safe return of European nationals to their home countries.
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, we have warned of the dangers of the conflict escalating and the region sliding into a spiral of gradual escalation. We have stated clearly that the continuation of the war without a political horizon will lead to further regional tensions and entanglements.
Consolidating stability is a collective responsibility, and maintaining international peace is a shared duty. Therefore, the State of Qatar reaffirms its commitment to working jointly with its regional and international partners, including the European Union, to prevent the spread of tension and de-escalate the situation in order to achieve security and stability in the region.
We rely on the European Union to continue playing its essential role in supporting these efforts and contributing to security and stability.
We value Europe’s support for the Gulf region in the field of defense and look forward to further strengthening this cooperation.
Thank you and I look forward to our discussions today,
