PRESS STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE ON THE CURRENT IMPASSSE BETWEEN QATAR AND ARAB STATES
The Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone notes with great anxiety the deterioration in relations between Qatar and its Arab and Muslim brothers – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone regrets that such escalation of political, economic and diplomatic tensions among nation-states diminishes our collective search for international peace and security.
The Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone believes that constructive dialogue remains the only viable hope for peace in the Middle East and indeed in the world at large.
At the same time, Sierra Leone as a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference invokes the principles envisaged in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Charter in calling for peaceful resolution to the ongoing diplomatic and economic impasse and believes that the peaceful resolution of this crisis will bolster cooperation in the fight against extremism, radicalism and terrorism world-wide.
We strongly believe that the founding principles of the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organization of Islamic Conference, of which Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar are members, necessitate the promotion of brotherly, religious, social, cultural and economic solidarity in meeting historic and emerging challenges in the Arabian Peninsula, The Gulf, the wider Middle East and the world at large.
The Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone therefore urges the sustainability of diplomatic efforts by Kuwait and other countries as they mediate in this crisis. As one of the most religiously tolerant nations, and promoter of peace amongst nations, Sierra Leone supports a resolution that aids economic, religious and cultural cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the promotion of peace and justice in the Middle East and the world at large.
ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE
20TH JUNE, 2017
