HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said the majority of Middle Eastern countries have been suffering for decades from instability; lack of popular participation in decision-making; absence of social justice, basic freedoms, and respect of human rights; and failure of the international security system.
Speaking during the 10th edition of Al Jazeera Forum, the Foreign Minister said the main reason for instability in the Middle East is the continuing Israeli occupation of Arab territories for more than six decades while the international society didn’t do enough to end it despite Israel’s violation of international resolutions, laws, systems and norms.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said the international society adopted the two-state solution in a context that ensures the settling of the issues of Jerusalem, refugees, security, borders and water in line with international references and the Arab Peace Initiative as a referential framework for bringing about a just and comprehensive peace in the region, adding that ending the occupation and achieving peace in the Middle East requires the international community to exercise various forms of pressure on Israel to compel it to comply with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as capital.
 HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani also spoke of the tragedy of the Syrian people, attributing it to the failure of the international community to deal firmly and seriously with it, which, he said, shows the deficiency and failure of the international collective security system and the paradox between the international commitment acknowledged by the Security Council member-states to maintain international peace and security, and the development of standards and political considerations that serve the interests of some countries in the implementation of these responsibilities.  
The Foreign Minister stressed that it is imperative for the international community to reach a comprehensive political settlement and a complete change in Syria in order to save it from the risk of fragmentation.
He added that the whole world, and particularly the Middle East, is facing terrorism and extremism as the biggest challenge to the achievement of international safety and peace, highlighting poverty, unemployment and ignorance as main reasons that make youths more vulnerable to voluntary and involuntary enlistment by terrorist groups. So, he added, young people must be empowered and their abilities must be enhanced in order to take advantage of their potential and get them away from the incubator environment for terrorism and extremism.
HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani stressed that eradicating terrorism anywhere can only be achieved through the successful treatment of its incubator environment and the deep-rooted reasons that drive an individual to embark on acts of terrorism, noting that this can be achieved through the political settlement of disputes, the establishment of justice, security and stability and not marginaliding or excluding anyone.
In line with Qatar’s strong conviction in resolving disputes through peaceful means and based on Article 7 of its Permanent Constitution, the State of Qatar has laid the foundations of peaceful mediation and successfully engaged in intensive diplomacy to contain numerous tensions and disputes both regionally and internationally in order to achieve peace and security, the Foreign Minister said.  
HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said based on Qatar’s firm belief that the achievement of development is the only way to realise security and stability, provide a decent life for peoples and keep young people safe from drifting into crime or extremism, the State of Qatar has spared no effort in fulfilling its international obligations with regard to the provision of humanitarian and development aid and by contributing fund and expertise available to the development and reconstruction in the region and outside it. This, he said, includes providing financial and technical assistance available in cases of natural disasters.
He added that tyranny, corruption and absence of rule of law as well as lack of real political and economic reforms are the main reasons behind the uprisings in several countries in the region, noting that the State of Qatar was among the first countries to call on international community to support these people in achieving their legitimate demands for freedom and dignity, and achieve their aspirations for a better life dominated by justice, equality and the values of dialogue, tolerance and respect for human rights, and not dominated by sectarian or political exclusion.