Video: Secretary Clinton with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani
Remarks With Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani After Their Meeting
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
January 11, 2012
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, welcome, everyone, and Happy New Year. And it’s
especially appropriate that I would start this new year with a meeting
between myself and Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, the prime minister and
foreign minister of Qatar. It’s always a great pleasure and an important
opportunity for us to get together to discuss the issues that are
affecting both of us, and I am delighted that we had this chance to do
so.
Qatar is and remains a very valuable American partner. As we look
back on the year just finished, I’m not sure there was any one like it.
It was an extraordinary time, and during it, our partnership evolved to
address new challenges and take advantage of new opportunities,
including the unprecedented joint operations with NATO over the skies of
Libya.
Today, Sheikh Hamad and I had a productive and wide-ranging
discussion about the path forward. We spoke about the importance of
helping Libya complete its transition from an armed revolution to a
peaceful, unified, and orderly democracy under the rule of law. We
discussed Yemen, where Qatar is working as part of the Gulf Cooperation
Council to ensure that all parties honor their commitment to take part
in a peaceful transition to democracy. We also spoke about the
importance of responding to people’s economic needs. So many of these
revolutions and uprisings that we have seen were rooted in the economic
grievances that people had – not enough jobs, not jobs that paid an
adequate wage for a family, too much corruption, and so much else. And
we are working together to assist countries to provide more economic
change for their people.
And of course, we spoke at length about the troubling events
unfolding in Syria. I want to commend Qatar and the prime minister
particularly for his personal commitment and leadership to rally the
Arab world to end Assad’s assault on his own people. Two weeks ago, Arab
League monitors arrived in Syria to judge whether the regime was
keeping its promise to end the killings, withdraw its troops, release
political prisoners, and follow through on the commitments that it had
made.
So far, the regime has not done so. It claims to have released some
prisoners, but thousands more are still not free. Dozens more are
arrested every day. We’ve seen the Syrian army paint its assault
vehicles blue to disguise military forces as police to hide from the
world the full extent of its crackdown. Just two days ago, 11 of the
international monitors were attacked – two were injured – when their
convoy came under assault.
But instead of taking responsibility, what we hear from President
Assad in his chillingly cynical speech yesterday was only making
excuses, blaming foreign countries, conspiracies so vast that now it
includes the Syrian opposition, the international community, all
international media outlets, the Arab League itself. And I want to
commend the Arab League for showing real leadership. I think that it’s
clear to both the prime minister and myself that the monitoring mission
should not continue indefinitely. We cannot permit President Assad and
his regime to have impunity. Syrians deserve a peaceful transition. We
are looking to work with the Arab League when the current monitoring
mission expires on January 19th. And we look again to the prime minister for his leadership.
So we talked about many things. Those are some of the highlights. But
it’s, again, a pleasure to meet with you and to have this chance to
exchange views, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER AL THANI: Thank you very much, Madam Secretary.
First of all, Happy New Year to you and to the ladies and gentlemen
here. It’s my pleasure to be here again and I think the talks between us
is reflecting the relationship, the strength of, and the depth of the
relationship between Qatar and United States. Actually, last year was a
hard year, and it seems to me this year will be a hard year in our
region. As you know, there is a lot of conflicts in our region and a lot
of challenges, and that need that we work as an Arab, and I am happy
and glad that the Arab League have taken the lead in how to try to find a
solution – not always easy, not always successful, but this is – in the
history of the Arab League, this is the first time that we are sending a
monitor (inaudible) people.
I could not see, up till now, a successful mission, frankly speaking. I hope it will be successful, but 19th,
there will be a report, and this report will be very important for us
to make the right judgment. We cannot accept to let the situation as it
is in Syria and the people killed by their own governments. I think it’s
the Arab responsibility, but also it’s an international responsibility
in the end. We hope we solve it in – as we say, in the house of the
Arabs, but right now the government not helping us. The Syrian
Government’s not helping us. The killing still is – daily killing going
on.
Of course, there is the Yemen challenge, which we hope that it finish
as been planned. And we have the election next month in the 21st
of next month. Of course, the situation and the tension in the Gulf is
very important, and we’ve been discussing how we can reduce the tension
in the Gulf, and respect each country’s and each jurisdiction for each
of us in the region.
The other problem, of course, which it’s – also need an attention
from all of us is the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts. And I think this is
a very important issue, which we should find a way, especially this
year. We are happy that there is kind of start between the Quartet and
the Palestinian and the Israelis, but it have to have a result and the
Israeli have to stop the settlements so they can allow these talks take
their chances to succeed.
But I really thank you very much, Madam Secretary, for this
opportunity, and I think this talk is very important for us and for the
region.
MS. NULAND: We have time for two questions today. First one from CNN, Elise Labott.
QUESTION: Thank you, Sheikh Hamad. First, on the Taliban, the
Taliban has announced their willingness to open an office in Qatar. Can
you talk about the next steps?
And, Madam Secretary, is the U.S. ready to release these Guantanamo detainees in exchange for talks with the Taliban?
And on Iran, we’ve seen a series of provocative moves, including a
threat to close the Strait of Hormuz. How would you respond to that? Are
you discussing alternative oil supplies to countries who rely on Iran?
And Madam Secretary, today Iran accused the United States and Israel
of killing one of its nuclear scientists. How do you respond to that?
Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, let me start with the Taliban office,
because I want to put this in context of our larger strategy to support
a peaceful, stable, increasingly prosperous and democratic Afghanistan.
These are goals that both the United States and Qatar share. As I said
when I was in the region last fall, our strategy includes three
elements: we have to continue fighting against those who take up arms
against Afghans, against NATO-ISAF; we have to talk with those willing
to talk to seek a peaceful resolution; and we have to continue to try to
build Afghanistan for the future.
With respect to the fight, we have supported the Government of
Afghanistan now for more than 10 years. And as we move toward full
Afghan transition to security, we are standing with the government and
the people of Afghanistan to battle those who continue to use violent
means against innocent people. And we are absolutely resolved to defend
the interests of Afghanistan and the international community.
Now with respect to talking to the Taliban, the reality is we never
have the luxury of negotiating for peace with our friends. If you’re
sitting across a table discussing a peaceful resolution to a conflict,
you are sitting across from people who, by definition, you don’t agree
with and who you may previously have been across a battlefield from. So
we are prepared to support an Afghan-led process of reconciliation, and
we will participate in that in support of the Afghans if we believe it
holds promise for an end to the conflict.
So we have worked to help establish a reconciliation process and real
negotiations, and we have been very grateful for the assistance that
the Government of Qatar has provided. I think the positive statements
last week from both President Karzai and the Taliban demonstrate that
there is support for such discussions for the political office to open
in Qatar. And – now nothing has been concluded. We are still in the
preliminary stages of testing whether this can be successful. And we
remain committed to the red lines that we have consistently laid out,
namely that both the Afghan Government and the international community
must see the insurgents renounce violence, break with al-Qaida, and
support the laws and constitution of Afghanistan, including protecting
the rights of women and minorities.
I have made it clear to President Karzai that we will work with him
under his leadership. I’ve asked our Special Representative, Ambassador
Marc Grossman, to go to Afghanistan next week to continue our
consultations with the Afghans, and also to go to Qatar to continue our
consultations with our partners in Qatar.
And I think it’s also important to remember, at the same time we’re
doing this, we’re trying to continue to build a better future for the
Afghans. That’s the idea behind the vision of a New Silk Road. And we’re
looking for a lot of regional partners to assist us in doing that. And
we have not made any decisions about releasing any Taliban from
Guantanamo.
Let me just continue and then turn it over to Sheikh Hamad, who may
have to excuse himself because he’s expected at the White House.
I think it’s important to recognize very clearly that the provocative
rhetoric coming out of Iran in the last week has been quite concerning.
It has caused us and many of our partners in the region and around the
world to reach out to the Iranians to impress upon them the provocative
and dangerous nature of the threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. This
is an international waterway. The United States and others are committed
to keeping it open. It’s part of the lifeline that keeps oil and gas
moving around the world. And it’s also important to speak as clearly as
we can to the Iranians about the dangers of this kind of provocation.
Having said that, I want to categorically deny any United States
involvement in any kind of act of violence inside Iran. We believe that
there has to be an understanding between Iran, its neighbors, and the
international community that finds a way forward for it to end its
provocative behavior, end its search for nuclear weapons, and rejoin the
international community and be a productive member of it.
PRIME MINISTER AL THANI: Well, Iran – I will start from Iran
where the Secretary end. Iran is a very important country, very close to
us and the border, and we believe that we have to find a way to live
together in peaceful way. And for that, I believe that a dialogue is –
and political dialogue – is very important to try to sort the problem
between Iran and other international communities. But it have to be a
serious talk from both sides. It have to be a productive talk with an
object how to find a way to get out of this dilemma of the negotiation.
But for us, it’s very important that we don’t trigger any tension,
military tension, in the region. We are against any military tension. We
think that the only best way is, as I mentioned, is to find a serious
dialogue, not a dialogue just for a dialogue but a serious dialogue
between the parties.
About the office of Taliban, as you know, Qatar is trying to be
peaceful messengers or peaceful ambassadors, and we are trying to do
this with all our capacity. And that’s part of our policy how to defuse
the tension in our region. And Afghanistan is not far from our region,
and any opportunity we can help our friends to try to find a mutual
ground to start a negotiation and dialogue, we think this is the best
opportunity to solve the tension in our region.
As you know, the region passed through a lot of difficulties, a lot
of wars. It’s time to find a way to try to solve it. And we really thank
Madam Secretary. She is very wise, doing a great job. And I’m not
saying this for complimentary, but I think she – we could feel that
there is a lot of problem could be solved with his – with her wise
policy in the region.
Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, Sheikh Hamad. And I think --
QUESTION: Time for one more?
SECRETARY CLINTON: We have one more, and then I’m going to have let the sheikh go.
QUESTION: Sure.
MS. NULAND: Last question to Nadia Charters, MBC.
QUESTION: Thank you. Madam Secretary, you talked about the
Arab League monitors report. Many expect it to be damning to the Syrian
regime. Is the next step the UN Security Council? Will you be able to
get a resolution that has teeth more than just rhetoric?
(In Arabic.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: I’m going to let Sheikh Hamad answer that
after it’s translated, because we are certainly supportive of the Arab
League leadership.
INTERPRETER: The question in Arabic was: Assad has launched
accusations against the Arab League that it is receiving orders and
taking directions from foreign parties and outside parties. So how can
you answer these attacks or these verbal attacks?
PRIME MINISTER AL THANI: Shall I answer in Arabic or in English? In Arabic.
(In Arabic.)
That’s – I should say it in English. Yes, you can.
INTERPRETER: Madam Secretary?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.
INTERPRETER: The foreign minister said in Arabic the
following: It is important now not to look at who is launching
accusations towards whom. It is important now for President Assad to
cooperate with the Arab League mission and to cooperate with the Arab
thoughts and ideas in order to find a resolution to this issue. He has
said that the Arab League has been a six decades of failure, and there
are those who also say that the regime in Syria has been four decades of
stuff. Therefore, and this is something that the people of Syria and
the Arab people will be judging or will judge, whether the successes and
the failures
What is most important now, it’s to stop the killing, to remove all
armed presence from the streets, to release all detainees and prisoners,
and to provide security for the media. And until now, we have not seen
that this has been fulfilled and implemented according to the protocol
that was put in place for that. We will have a meeting with the mission,
with the Arab League mission, of the observers mission, on the 19th or the 20th
of this month, and we will look into the assessment and assessment
report that this mission will bring. And we will see whether there will
be ways or venues for cooperation and how we will deal forward with that
problem. However, what is now obvious today is that attacks are still
ongoing and it seems that the Government of Syria is still not ready to
change its course.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much. PRIME MINISTER AL THANI: Thank you very much.
