2023 Achievements// Qatar: Established Global Destination for Mediation, Dispute Resolution
Doha, December 31 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has established itself in 2023 as the world's main mediator, leaving a clear imprint on the map of negotiations and peace talks, and settling crises and disputes that great powerhouses remained unable to resolve.
These painstaking mediation efforts have earned Doha a large-scale international confidence and credibility, turning the Qatari diplomacy into a milestone in the world politics.
Over the course of a decade, Qatar has entered a new, completely different political phase with pivotal dispute-resolving roles both regionally and globally. These roles stem from Doha's deep-rooted belief in peacemaking worldwide capitalizing on its tools and means that guarantee a vital foreign policy based on a win-win situation for the conflicting parties.
HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani affirmed this attitude during a Sep. 19, 2023 speech before the 78th UN General Assembly in which His Highness indicated that peaceful resolving of disputes is long and arduous, but less costly than wars. "We must not forget that there are peoples around the world, especially in our region, who are absorbed by the present tragedies ...it must be our duty to strive towards ending the injustice afflicting them", His Highness said.
Since the outbreak of the ongoing Israeli occupations aggression against the Gaza Strip, for over two months now, the State of Qatar has engineered negotiations to stop the attacks of the occupation forces, reduce the escalation, stop the bloodshed and protect civilians. The Qatari efforts managed to reach the first pause on Nov. 22 in preparation for the exchange of dozens of prisoners and allow the delivery of humanitarian convoys and relief aid, including fuel for humanitarian needs into Gaza. In this regard, the State of Qatar appreciated the efforts made by Egypt and the United States in supporting mediation efforts to reach an agreement.
Although the pause did not last long and the Israeli aggression resumed, the State of Qatar continued its efforts to alleviate the suffering of over two million Palestinians trapped in Gaza.
The State of Qatar has extended its mediation efforts to Latin America manifested in its efforts to end the US-Venezuela dispute two years ago. HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi announced on Dec. 21, 2023 that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela had released 10 American prisoners, in exchange for the US releasing a Venezuelan prisoner, after holding several negotiation sessions between the two parties.
His Excellency stressed that this step was part of a broader mediation to address the outstanding issues between the two countries, stressing that the success of this mediation reaffirms the position of the State of Qatar as a reliable partner at the regional and international levels, and also reflects its effective role in making peace and enhancing security and stability in the region and the world.
Doha diplomacy has also succeeded in reuniting Ukrainian children with Russia, through two swap deals based on a mechanism agreed between Moscow and Kyiv. The first swap was on Oct. 16, 2023, which resulted in retrieving four children, while the second one was on Dec. 15, 2023, in which 6 children and their families were hosted at the headquarters of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Moscow and ultimately they were transferred to their final destination to ensure their safety and comfort, as well as their needs as per explanations of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During that time, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its full appreciation for the governments of Ukraine and Russia for their cooperation and commitment to ensuring safety and security of those children and providing the appropriate care for them during and prior to this operation.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked Commissioner for Children's Rights under the President of the Russian Federation Maria Lvova-Belova and Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets for their cooperation in this context, pointing out that the success of this operation underscores Qatar's international reliability with various parties, along with its enduring commitment to promoting peace, security and stability in the region and the world, and its readiness to play a constructive and effective role in various crises.
In addition, Qatar has mediated in detainee exchange agreement between the United States and Iran in August 2023. The deal included the release of 5 Iranians who were detained in the United States. It resulted in lifting the ban on USD6 billion of Tehran's funds. It also resulted in the Iranian funds frozen in South Korea being transferred and deposited in Qatari banks.
Reciprocally, Iran released five US prisoners who arrived in Doha and were then transferred to the United States.
HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi said the arrival of five US citizens who were detained in Iran at Doha International Airport following a Qatari mediation signifies the position of Qatar as a reliable international partners.
He expressed his hope that full implementation of the agreement between Washington and Tehran would lead to greater understandings that include return to the joint comprehensive action plan.
The Qatar-led mediation efforts are known for all, as it proved their success in reaching settlements for numerous disputes that threaten security, stability, and peace in many cases. The strength of diplomacy and dialogue is abundantly clear and well demonstrated through Qatar's role as an international player in resolving conflicts in the region and the world.
Since 2013 and heretofore, Qatar has succeeded in mediating over ten major regional and global issues, thanks to its record which abounds with successes in mediation, including Sudan, where Qatar played a pioneering role in making peace in Sudan and hosted the peace talks in Doha during 2013 to 2018.
Qatar has a greater role in the ongoing efforts to solve the Sudanese crisis, along with its attempts to stop the war currently ongoing between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and co-chaired the Sudan Pledging Conference 2023: Ministerial Pledging Event to Support the Humanitarian Response in Sudan and the Region alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Arab Republic of Egypt, Federal Republic of Germany, and the United Nations, represented by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA, European Union, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The State of Qatar pledged USD50 million in support of Sudan humanitarian response plan and regional refugee plan efforts, based on Qatar’s fraternal responsibility and moral and humanitarian duty towards brothers in Sudan, and in continuation of its ongoing humanitarian and development efforts in the brotherly Sudan. Qatar emphasized that it would spare no effort to stand with the fraternal Sudanese people until they overcome this crisis, indicating that the steadfast and unwavering position of the State of Qatar is to support unity, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the brotherly Sudan, reject any form of interference in its internal affairs, and fully respect the choices of its people for freedom, Peace, justice and prosperity.
Since the outbreak of the current armed conflict in Sudan, along with the resulting consequences of the humanitarian crisis, the State of Qatar has been taking the initiative to stand with the Sudanese brothers, through operating an air bridge to deliver aid, which included food, medicine, and clothing. The cost amounted to more than USD4 million, in addition to evacuating thousands of people through the efforts of several institutions in the State of Qatar, such as Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Charity, and Qatar Red Crescent Society. (QNA)
