Equipo Nizkor - UNSC S/2016/491 - Letter from Qatar in response to the Syrian allegations against Qatar.

United Nations
Security Council

S/2016/491

Distr.: General
2 June 2016
English
Original: Arabic

Identical letters dated 26 May 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council

On instructions from my Government, I should like to draw your attention to the following:

Since March 2011, when the Syrian regime decided to resort to repression against its people after they came out in a peaceful popular revolution to demand their legitimate rights, that regime has insisted on following criminal and irresponsible policies and on twisting and falsifying the facts. It has tried to hold the international community responsible for its own crimes and failed policies, which are a blight on humanity. It has also tried to tar States such as Qatar, which support the rights of the Syrian people, with the brush of terrorism. The regime has addressed numerous letters to the United Nations that teem with utterly baseless allegations and lies, including those dated 4 May 2016 (S/2016/415) and 23 May 2016 (S/2016/464).

The State of Qatar categorically rejects all the allegations contained in the letters of the Representative of the Syrian regime and should like to reiterate the following:

The State of Qatar condemns all terrorist acts against civilians and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whatever its source. Qatar also reaffirms that it is committed to addressing that phenomenon and supporting regional and international efforts to bring stability and security to the region and throughout the world. It notes that terrorism has increased in Syria as a result of the regime's brutal aggression against the Syrian people, and also because it cooperates with and supports terrorist groups for its own survival.
The regime has followed a policy of murder, terrorism, siege of cities, air attacks on civilians, and destruction of schools, houses of worship, hospitals and medical facilities. It attacks medical personnel and humanitarian workers, and obstructs the delivery of medical supplies to the sick and those in need. Those actions unequivocally demonstrate the terrorist nature of that regime and its abiding contempt for all moral, humanitarian and legal standards.
The State of Qatar's efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria are animated by its commitment to upholding the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and other international instruments that support the right of peoples to self-determination and a life of dignity, and protect human rights, while preserving Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Qatar's efforts are also animated by its categorical rejection of crimes against humanity, war crimes and other grave violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and are based on the Charter of the United Nations, the relevant resolutions of the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and various United Nations bodies, and international law.
The State of Qatar reaffirms its support for a political solution to the crisis in Syria based on the Geneva Communique of 30 June 2012 and the establishment of an inclusive transitional governing body with full executive powers that meets the Syrian people's aspirations while preserving Syria's unity and sovereignty. Because it believes in a political solution, the State of Qatar has taken part in all the international meetings on the Syrian crisis, from the 2012 Geneva meeting to the May 2016 meeting just held in Vienna by the International Syria Support Group, of which Qatar is an active member.
The State of Qatar reaffirms its commitment to continued cooperation with the United Nations and the international community to support and assist the Syrian people and bring an end to their suffering.

Finally, today is the fourth anniversary of the atrocious criminal massacre committed by the Syrian regime's shabbiha militias in the town of Hulah, where dozens of innocent civilians were massacred, including women, children and elderly persons. The State of Qatar recalls that horrific massacre, as well as hundreds of others carried out by the regime, with great pain. It once again calls on the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, to take all measures necessary to protect Syrian civilians from crimes perpetrated by the Syrian regime, and to do everything necessary to hold accountable all those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity to ensure that the perpetrators do not escape punishment under the international justice system.

I should be grateful if the present letter could be issued as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani
Permanent Representative

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02Jun16

Letter from Qatar in response to the Syrian allegations against Qatar