Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs: Blockade is Turning Point for Region's Geopolitics

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs: Blockade is Turning Point for Region's Geopolitics

Doha – Information Office – 02 April

HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani affirmed that the unjust blockade imposed on the State of Qatar has constituted a turning point for the geopolitical situation in the entire region, stressing that the only way forward is the negotiation table. HE the Minister added that this will only happen when these countries realize that the blockade will not be the way to achieve their goals, or to remove their fears, regardless of their definition.

In an open conversation hosted by Georgetown University on Tuesday on the priorities of Qatar's foreign and economic policies, and the future of Qatari relations with the countries of the world, HE the Foreign Minister addressed the successful strategies adopted by the State of Qatar to ensure national security and alleviate the human suffering of the blockade. HE the Minister underscored that Qatar would not have been able to face and overcome the challenges without the internal support from citizens and residents, adding that the state appreciates the valuable contributions of its diverse society and the role it continues to play in the future development of the country.

HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed pride of Georgetown University in Qatar, which has graduated more than 440 graduates so far, including 12 graduates working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who are part of the team that worked during the blockade. HE the Minister praised the diversity of Georgetown campus in Qatar, which currently houses more than 50 different nationalities.

In response to the audience's questions about the future of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani underscored the importance of the GCC as a framework for regional cooperation and coexistence.

Moreover, HE the Foreign Minister answered a number of questions regarding the future of the energy sector, seeking new security arrangements based on cooperation, and the impact of Georgetown's international affairs curriculum on building human capital in the State of Qatar.

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke of his role as Chairman of Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), as an institution dedicated to improving the lives of people and communities around the world, saying that in 2018, QFFD provided assistance to 71 countries and provided grants of up to USD 585 million, 30 percent of which was earmarked for education.

HE the Foreign Minister opined that achieving stability in the future necessitate investing in tools that enable people to achieve it.

Dean of Georgetown University in Washington Dr. Robert Groves and Dean of Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service Dr. Joel Hellman as well as and a large number of Georgetown University in Qatar students, faculty and staff members and a number of the diplomatic corps attended the discussion.

Commenting on the importance of the visit of HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to the university, Dean of Georgetown University in Qatar Dr. Ahmad Dallal said that with regard to the international relations students, this is a valuable opportunity for direct dialogue with a distinguished figure in the highest decision-making circles of Qatar's foreign policy and for a direct understanding of the power of diplomacy and its importance in building international multilateral relations in today's world.