Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalifi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, emphasized his country's global mediation efforts in a speech to members of the Japanese Parliament and called for greater international cooperation to resolve conflicts and alleviate human suffering.
Qatar's Commitment to Diplomacy and Mediation
Al-Khalifi stated at this meeting held in the House of Representatives of Japan in Tokyo that Qatar's foreign policy is based on legal commitments and a belief in the role of diplomacy in preserving human lives, reducing suffering, and promoting security and stability. He added that the success of mediation depends on building trust and credibility, patience, respect for commitments, and maintaining the confidentiality of negotiations.
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Qatar's Role in International Crises
The Foreign Minister of Qatar referred to the growing role of his country as an international mediator and mentioned ongoing efforts in several regional and international conflicts, including the situation in Afghanistan, Gaza Strip, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Qatar has emerged as a central mediator in the ongoing war in Gaza and is widely engaged alongside Egypt and the United States to negotiate a ceasefire and a prisoner release agreement. The country also played a key role in facilitating the exit of American forces from Afghanistan in 2021.
Al-Khalifi also mentioned Qatar's efforts to reunite Ukrainian children with their families amid the war in Ukraine, considering such initiatives as part of broader efforts to alleviate human suffering and create conditions for political solutions. Since July 2023, Qatar's mediation program has successfully returned several Ukrainian children displaced by the war to their families.
He emphasized that reaching agreements is only part of the process, and the implementation of these agreements and fulfilling commitments is essential for achieving lasting peace. Al-Khalifi also stressed the importance of protecting mediators and maintaining negotiation channels to preserve hope for peaceful agreements.
At the end of his speech, the Minister of State for Qatar praised the long-standing friendship and strategic partnership between Qatar and Japan and expressed hope that the two countries would strengthen their cooperation in support of diplomacy, reducing tensions, and coordinating humanitarian and development efforts in conflict-affected countries.
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