Director of Policy and Planning Department at Foreign Ministry Participates in a Session in the 19th Edition of Manama Dialogue
Manama - Media & Communication Dept. -20 November 2023
HE Director of Policy and Planning Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Khalid bin Fahad Al Khater participated in a special session entitled "Policy towards Iran: between Deterrence and Dialogue", within the 19th edition of the Manama Dialogue hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in the Bahraini capital, Manama on November 17-19.
The session was also attended by HE Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the European External Action Service, Mr. Enrique Mora, HE Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Mr Hossam Zaki, and the UK Chief of Defence Staff's Senior Advisor to the Middle East & North Africa, Marshal Martin Sampson.
In a speech, the Director of Policy and Planning Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave an overview of Qatar's approach to dealing with regional security issues through diplomacy and dialogue, based on the principle of participation, continued de-escalation and conflict resolution by peaceful means.
His Excellency noted the need for major countries and international blocs to consult with their allies in the region about their regional policies towards the Gulf region, and not just resort to them when a problem results from these policies.
He stressed the centrality of dialogue, diplomacy and consensus as the basis for engagement between all regional parties, and the need to continue adopting dialogue to de-escalate with countries such as Iran, pointing to the importance of Saudi-Iranian rapprochement and the return of bilateral relations between them.
His Excellency said that such regional rapprochements have tangible benefits for all of us, whether in the form of greater security opportunities for maritime trade or encouraging other countries in the Gulf to overcome obstacles between them, pointing out that the increase in security arrangements creates safer communities and encourages economic investment and development in the region.
His Excellency also gave an overview of the efforts of the State of Qatar in the field of mediation and bringing together views between various regional and international parties to de-escalate, especially its efforts to reach a prisoner exchange agreement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.