Qatar Complains to UNSC after UAE Violates Its Airspace for Second Time


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Qatar in separate letters to the President of the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General complained violation of its airspace by the United Arab Emirates’ planes for the second time in the past few days.

In a letter sent by Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, he drew the attention of the UN Secretary General and the President of the Security Council to a UAE military airlift carrying induction code (DHC-6) coming from the UAE airspace bound for the Kingdom of Bahrain to enter the airspace of Qatar, at 10:10am, on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, flying over the country’s special economic zone, without prior authorization of the competent Qatari authorities, Qatar official News Agency reported.

Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani described the incident as an evidence that shows UAE authorities seek to continue their approach to violate international law, conventions, charters and international norms.

On Thursday, Qatar also sent two separate messages to the UN Secretary General and the President of the UN Security Council regarding an Emirati fighter aircraft coming from the UAE airspace violating Qatar’s airspace on December 21, 2017.

Qatar's complaint about the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) violation of its airspace is "incorrect," said the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash Friday.

The Abu Dhabi-based official described on Twitter the Qatar's claim as "confusing," adding the UAE's authorities are working to respond to it officially with evidence.

The UAE and its allies, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing Doha of supporting "extremism and terrorism”.

The Arab quartet also imposed transport and trade sanctions by air, land and sea. Qatar has denied the charges and upgraded trade with Iran and Turkey since then to decrease the impact of sanctions.