The Cabinet yesterday denounced the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which was passed in the US recently, stating that it violated international law and the principle of sovereignty of states.
At its weekly meeting yesterday, the Cabinet noted that passing the law represented a dangerous precedent in relations between countries and would have negative consequences, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.
JASTA allows attack survivors and relatives of terrorism victims to pursue cases against foreign governments in US federal court and to demand compensation.
The US Senate and House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to override President Barack Obama’s veto of the law.
Saudi Arabia warned of “disastrous consequences” from the law, which allows 9/11 victims to sue the kingdom, Gulf Times reported recently.
A Saudi foreign ministry source called on the US Congress “to take the necessary measures to counter the disastrous and dangerous consequences”, noting that JASTA was “a source of great worry”. The erosion of sovereign immunity is also a concern among the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council.
The Gulf states have criticised the legislation, the report said.
Last month, a Qatari official had said the bill represented a dangerous precedent, adding that the State of Qatar warned that it would have dangerous implications for relations between states, according to QNA.
After the Cabinet meeting chaired by HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani at the Emiri Diwan yesterday, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud said the Cabinet gave its nod to a draft decision to set up a permanent committee to manage seaports.
Under the law, the committee will be chaired by a representative from the Ministry of Interior, while the members will include representatives of all designated authorities.
The role of the committee is to operate ports in co-ordination with the authorities concerned.
It will also follow up on and regulate work at the ports, as well as oversee all employees there.
It will also provide a quarterly report to HE the Minister of Interior on the progress at seaports, according to the QNA report.
The Cabinet, meanwhile, approved HE the Minister of Public Health’s draft decision on restructuring the “supreme medical committee” as well as HE the Minister’s draft decision on forming a “medical committee”. It also gave its nod to the application of provisions of Law No 24 of 2002 on the retirement and pension of Qatari employees of some entities.