Qatar keen to promote peace in region: FM

DOHA/OSLO: Qatar is determined to be a force for good in the world to play an active role in promoting peace, Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said yesterday.

He told an annual gathering of Norway";s ambassadors abroad that there is more to be done 'to give the people in the Middle East the opportunity to hope for a better future”.

'The people of the Middle East did not choose to live in an environment of terrorism and sectarian violence. History shows that we are a people of tolerance and coexistence regardless of our different backgrounds, ethnicity, religions, or sects.

'The people of the Middle East deserve governments that are responsive to their hopes and needs and ensure that their rights are protected. The people of the Middle East deserve to live in a society that ensures equity instead of inequality,” he said.

He called for an end to fighting in some Arab countries. 'The fighting in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen must come to an end because the longer the fighting, the greater the sacrifice of human capital and the more children who will be deprived of their right to an education.”

'And the longer the fighting, the more likely that moderate young men and women will be radicalised and lured into the extremist camp as a result of their desperation and hopelessness.

He stressed the need for peace efforts in the Middle East. 'I think it is obvious to all of us that the importance of peace-making and reconciliation efforts in the Middle East has never been more critical than it is today,” he said, adding Qatar was and remains a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause.

He said Qatar has been committed to youth empowerment and supporting initiatives that promote large-scale job creation, entrepreneurship and engagement of young people in economic and social development.

'Along with our partners, we seek to replace guns with pens, despair with hope and stagnation with innovation...We also believe that it is our moral and humanitarian responsibility to help those less fortunate,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

'We are investing in education as a human right and as a tool for prosperity and sustainable development. But we are convinced that education is also the best preventive measure we can take against the threat of radicalisation and terrorism.

For this reason, Qatar has supported programmes that reach millions of out-of-school children in the Middle East and North Africa, with the goal of protecting the region and the world from the rise of violent extremism.

To date, Qatar";s investments in teachers and classrooms have allowed over 600,000 children in Syrian refugee camps to continue education.

He said Qatar and Norway share a commitment to peace. 'We favour diplomacy and negotiations as a means to solve disputes — as opposed to war and bloodshed — and I believe this is where we can forge a lasting partnership.”

He said Qatar and Norway 'can better facilitate dialogue, encourage conflict resolution and promote reconciliation,” and by so doing, 'Norway and Qatar can become partners for peace.”

Sheikh Mohammed said Norway is not only the home of the Nobel Peace Prize but has also been a major player in conflict resolution for decades.

He highlighted Qatar";s role in promoting peace and resolving regional conflicts such as brokering Doha agreements between Lebanese factions in 2008, peace efforts in Sudan, and hosting peace talks in Doha before hosting an international donor conference for reconstruction and development in Darfur.

The Foreign Minister also spoke about Qatar";s efforts to enhance peace in Libya and said Doha has successfully mediated between the Tebu and Taureq tribes, resulting in the signing of a peace and reconciliation agreement in Doha.

Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar also helped resolve a border dispute between Djibouti and Eretria in 2010.

'In every mediation effort, we kept our doors open to all parties in the dispute to bring about a lasting peace,” he added.

The Peninsula