The state of Qatar has participated in the fourth Conference of OIC on Mediation under the theme: Experiences and Prospects, which was held in Jeddah, city of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
HE Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani led the delegation of the State of Qatar to this conference During his participation yesterday, Sunday Jun. 5, 2022 as a keynote speaker in first session of the conference, Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani addressed the role of the State of Qatar in mediation and mediation experiences in Yemen, Lebanon, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Afghanistan, and currently in Chad.
He stressed that mediation has become a strategic option for the State of Qatar and is considered a fundamental cornerstone and one of key pillars of its foreign policy, pointing out that there are no fixed rules for mediation, but rather underpinning foundations, and most importantly: the consent of the parties, impartiality, consistency, confidentiality, independence, transparency, and observance of international law and the United Nations Charter.
He indicated that cultural sensitivity in mediation is an extremely vital issue that shall be taken into account before and when engaging as a mediator in any conflict.
Dr. Al Qahtani explained that the State of Qatar works through regional and international partnerships on coherence, coordination and integration of the mediation efforts and diplomatic efforts, calling on the OIC and its Secretary-General to play a substantial role in addressing the crises that afflict OIC member states and fall within their geographical scope.
"It is well known to anyone that we live in a region in a state of semi-permanent tension and fall between competing and sometimes antagonistic forces," Dr. Al Qahtani said.
He pointed out that the State of Qatar does not believe in military options, but in soft power, preventive diplomacy and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means through good offices and mediation.
He stated that Qatar's mediation experience spanned more than 25 years, during which it gained a prestigious reputation and accumulated experience in dealing with crises and conflicts on the regional and international arenas.
"Most of our experiences have passed through serious challenges, great complications, and sometimes indirect obstacles, which Qatar has been able to overcome in various means, most importantly through working with our regional and international partners and countries in the region." He added.
He asserted that the State of Qatar is ready to work with everyone in order to achieve security and stability in the region through mediation and good efforts.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs