Doha: Following directives of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar’s efforts succeeded in the release of Fijian soldiers of UN peacekeeping forces detained in Syria.
They had been held captive for about two weeks on the side of the liberated Syrian Golan.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday that Qatar’s efforts in the release of 45 soldiers from Fiji, came out of Qatar’s belief in the principles of humanity, following a request by the government of Fiji for Qatari mediation.
The soldiers were handed over to the UN Philippine peacekeeping forces at the Quneitra crossing checkpoint. The ministry stressed that Qatar will spare no effort to harness all its potential and diplomatic mechanisms to maintain life. The ministry also thanked concerned quarters for cooperation that contributed to the release of the soldiers. QNA
