Sochi: The State of Qatar took part in the 8th Joint Ministerial Meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Russian Federation, held in Sochi, Russia. The Qatari delegation was led by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Al Muraikhi spoke on behalf of Qatar, condemning a recent attack described as state terrorism by Israel under its Prime Minister's leadership. He emphasized Qatar's commitment to defending its sovereignty and announced the formation of a legal team to address this aggression.
HE Al Muraikhi accused the Israeli government of escalating regional tensions and warned of the severe consequences of its hostile policies. He reiterated Qatar's dedication to working with strategic partners to uphold justice and defend international legality, ensuring peoples' rights to self-determination.
The minister highlighted the ongoing acts of genocide committed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza, aiming to undermine the Palestinian cause. He reaffirmed Qatar's support for the Palestinian people and commitment to political and humanitarian efforts for a ceasefire and a two-state solution.
HE Al Muraikhi praised the Russian Federation's efforts in resolving the Palestinian issue and emphasized Qatar's mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel. He condemned the Israeli attack on Qatar during negotiation sessions as a violation of international law and called for international accountability.
On the bilateral front, HE Al Muraikhi noted the strategic partnership between Qatar and Russia, particularly in energy, security, and economic sectors. He expressed appreciation for the joint action plan adopted in July 2023, enhancing cooperation between the two sides.
The minister also highlighted Qatar's balanced approach to conflict resolution, citing efforts to reunite children with their families in cooperation with Russia and Ukraine. He thanked the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for hosting the meeting and appreciated the contributions of Kuwait and the GCC Secretariat in preparing the event.