Media Center

Excellency’s, distinguished guests, welcome.

It is a pleasure to be with you all today.

As most of you are familiar with the State of Qatar’s foreign policy, I will not go into detail regarding our positions on current events and will leave that to the Q&A discussion later. 

Rather, I would like to reflect and discuss Qatar’s insight on the two broad themes that ICG analysts have focused on, that is 1) , “Peace, Justice and Reconciliation” and 2) “The Future of Conflict”. 

With respect to the first theme of “Peace, Justice, and Reconciliation”, Qatar has maintained a track record in mediation, de-escalation, and peace building. Mediation continues to be a strategic option for Qatar. It has been a fundamental cornerstone and one of the key pillars of our foreign policy for more than 25 years. 

Our efforts have resulted in vital ceasefire, dialogues, and peace and security arrangements.

Furthermore, the value of our work on this is also clear when looking at Qatar’s leadership in helping defuse tensions with Iran, in intra-Gulf relations, and achieving the calm in Gaza with Israel. It is also evident in the success of our mediation efforts in Yemen, Lebanon, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Afghanistan, and Chad to name a few.

However, we faced and overcame many challenges and obstacles that we view today as “lessons learned” which I believe can benefit the future of mediation and reconciliation, and particularly contribute to ICG’s field of analysis in “Peace, Justice and Reconciliation”.

The three main lessons learned include: 

First, Cooperation is key to achieve “Peace, Justice and Reconciliation”: 

We have found that peace, justice, and reconciliation cannot be achieved through national meditation alone, and requires collective action and cooperation on a regional, international, and multilateral level. This includes cooperation with both government and non- governmental organizations and civil society. Recent events have highlighted the importance of regional and international cooperation and proved that crises can be addressed only through collective, rather than unilateral efforts. 

Second, Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptability is vital to achieve “Peace, Justice and Reconciliation”. We believe that there are no fixed rules for mediation, but rather underpinning foundations. There is not a “text book definition” or a set of guidelines to follow to achieve peace and reconciliation through mediation. Rather, it is a process of continued reflection, flexibility, adaptability, and resilience. This includes cultural sensitivity in mediation as a vital element to be taken into account before and when engaging as a mediator in any conflict. 

Traditional mediators and negotiators may not fully take into account culture and other diversities, which we strive to understand and incorporate in our distinct mediation approach. It is important to be culturally sensitive and address the concerns of all parties and stakeholders involved. 

Third, Development is a cornerstone to achieve “Peace, Justice and Reconciliation”. In our experience, one of the main lessons learned is that development is vital to mediation. Reconciliation and peace can only be achieved through a holistic approach that includes development.  Peace is maintained through reconciliation and justice, and the promotion of human development. 

In our peacemaking efforts, we have also incorporated humanitarian and development assistance as effective intervention tools. As those attending the 5^th UN Conference on LDCs (LDC5) last week here in Doha may appreciate, Qatar’s approach is of particular importance for developing countries seeking lasting peace and stability as necessary conditions of sustainable development. It is toward that end that Qatar makes intensive efforts to provide humanitarian and development assistance in times of crises. 

Arguably, Qatar offers an unrivaled diplomatic approach to conflict mediation and peace making and, from our lead, others can benefit. 

With regard to the second theme of the “Future of Conflict”, we aim to go beyond managing crises to resolving crises by being well prepared and planning for future eventualities. The changing nature and increasing complexity of conflicts require the international community to join efforts and act as one. We must anticipate and plan for the future of cyber warfare, food insecurity, water scarcity, climate change, and energy challenges that contribute to the dynamics of conflicts. 

We share ICG’s concern about economic fragility as a serious threat to peace and security and we must navigate future conflicts with this in mind. This includes the increased use of economic sanctions which continues to exacerbate the humanitarian impacts of conflicts. The future of conflict will not only continue to prove how interconnected the world is, but also how peace, development, and prosperity are deeply connected. 

In conclusion, it is important to stress that through ICG’s reporting, analysis, and advocacy of more than 70 conflicts and crises, ICG contributes to policies to prevent and resolve severe conflicts. 

This is why we have partnered with ICG for a second 5-year cooperation agreement. This cooperation demonstrates the shared goals and values that we have and advance globally. 

I wish you fruitful and timely discussions on regional and global developments in your annual board meeting and look forward to your proposals on how best to navigate the many challenges ahead of us in the future. 

Thank you.