Qatar slams coercive measures of blockading countries
Qatar has called for condemning the unlawful unilateral coercive measures imposed by the blockading countries and pointed out that targeting of the State continues despite the relevant rulings issued by the competent international bodies such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
This came in a statement by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani in the UN Security Council’s virtual Arria-Formula meeting titled — End Unilateral Coercive Measures Now — which was called for by Russia, China, South Africa, Niger and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Ambassador Alya stated that Qatar has been facing illegal measures and a blockade imposed on it unilaterally without justification or legal basis for more than three years. She said that the attempt to undermine sovereignty and political independence is unacceptable and illegal, stressing that this attempt contradicts international law and obligations under the UN Charter, as well as undermines collective security frameworks and, thus, threatens regional and international peace and security in a region that receives special attention by the Security Council.
These coercive measures violate UN General Assembly resolutions, Ambassador Alya pointed out, referring to UN Resolution 74/154 entitled Human Rights and Unilateral Coercive Measures, which urges all States to stop taking or implementing any unilateral measures that are inconsistent with international law and the UN Charter.
She pointed out that these unilateral measures against Qatar resulted, and continues to result in, social and humanitarian consequences affecting the citizens and residents of the State, as well as many human rights violations. In this context, Ambassador Alya referred to UN reports, the latest of which is the preliminary findings of UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights Alena Douhan and her recent visit to Qatar.
Ambassador Alya reviewed the most prominent violations in the Special Rapporteur’s report, including numerous violations of fundamental rights and freedoms, such as the right to family life, education, work, treatment, private property, the practice of religion and access to justice.
She indicated that the Special Rapporteur expressed concern about the blockading countries’ application of various forms of unilateral trade embargoes against Qatar, which restricts trade in goods, services, and trade-related intellectual property rights, and hinders the full achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
It also noted the Special Rapporteur’s concern about the demand to close Qatari media outlets, which undermines freedom of expression.
Concluding her statement, Ambassador Alya pointed out that the application of unilateral coercive measures targeting Qatar continues despite the evidence that they are unlawful and the relevant rulings issued by the competent international bodies such as the International Court of Justice.
She added that this necessitates the condemnation of unlawful unilateral measures and the rejection of this method that hinders the achievement of full social and economic development and prosperity and the application of basic human rights.