(IRNA) - Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al- Thani urged the European Union Wednesday to continue its efforts to reach a peaceful solution to Iran's nuclear issue and oblige Israel to sign the NPT.
"Stability in the Middle East requires that the European Parliament continue Its efforts to reach a peaceful solution as to the Iranian nuclear program which will confirm that its goals will remain solely peaceful and under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency," he told the European Parliament in Strasbourg today noon.
Hamad bin Khalifa repeated calls to make the Middle East free of nuclear weapons and to oblige Israel to sign the non-proliferation treaty, reports Trend.
The Qatari emir criticized the West's double standards towards Palestine, saying the Palestinian government formed by Hamas in accordance with the free will of the Palestinian people should have been given the opportunity to work for the people who elected it.
"Instead of rewarding the Palestinian people for practicing democracy, something rarely witnessed in our region, the Palestinian people have been punished for it."
"I cannot understand how an embargo can be imposed on a government that has been democratically elected. Is it not double standards to demand free elections and then object to their results," he said.
The Qatari leader called on Israel to implement all international resolutions which stipulate the withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories with the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with the holy city of al-Quds as its capital.
He also called on the Zionist regime to immediately end the killing of Palestinians and the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure.
On Lebanon, the Qatari emir said he hoped Israel will respect the Arab country's sovereignty.
He urged the EU to intensify efforts to help Iraq overcome the current crisis.
The Qatari Emir said Islam spread through dialogue and flourished by conviction. "It was never imposed by anyone."
He emphasized the dialogue of civilizations and religions and urged all reasonable and wise people both in East and West to stand up and to bloc the call for division and intolerance.
On his part, EP President Josep Borrel said he wants to improve Europe's relations with the Islamic world and lower tension with Iran.
Borrel also noted that al-Jazeera channel which is based in Qatar will start its English language broadcast Wednesday.
The Qatari emir will arrive in Brussels later today for talks with EU and Belgian authorities.