Amid the rapidly unfolding regional and global realignments, Qatar projects itself as a pivotal player in the endeavours to support regional stability through persistent diplomatic and humanitarian efforts aimed at rebuilding the relationship with Syria as well as breaking the political and economic isolation that has been imposed on Syria for over a decade.
A number of researchers and political analysts asserted that Qatar possesses meticulously learned engagement tools to ease the sanctions imposed on Syria and usher in a new era of Arab co-operation that puts economic recovery and reconstruction among its priorities, with particular emphasis on safeguarding Syria’s unity and sovereignty.
Omar Adlbi, a researcher at the Harmoon Center for Contemporary Studies, highlighted to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the Qatari engagement in convincing western partners, including countries of the European Union, Britain, and the US, of the significance of reviewing the sanctions regime imposed on Syria is not new but is an extension of a firm position expressed by the Qatari leadership since the start of the Syrian crisis to support the people of Syria and their legitimate rights.
Qatar has been leveraging international forums such as the UN General Assembly to hold those who perpetrated violations against the Syrians accountable. Today, Qatar sees that the end of the erstwhile regime in Syria opens the door to further reviewing the imposed sanctions, particularly those which stand as a harbinger of access to humanitarian aid and the recovery of the new Syrian statehood, Adlbi underlined.
He added that Qatar performs a key role in securing humanitarian exemptions from these sanctions, especially in critical fields such as energy and transportation, emphasising that this role has contributed to achieving primary milestones, including the recommissioning of the Damascus International Airport and supplying the nation with electricity — steps that would not have been achieved without Qatari mediation.
Mousa al-Omar, a Syrian journalist, lauded the historic role Qatar has been performing to pitch in and support the people of Syria, as the only country that has never forsaken the Syrians during the toughest periods of the conflict.
He highlighted to QNA that the visit His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani paid to Damascus is a landmark in the Qatar-Syria relationship and reflects a real desire to close the past chapter and open the apertures of Arab co-operation.
Qatar is currently at the forefront of efforts to support development in Syria, with a particular focus on the electricity sector and the rehabilitation of infrastructure, al-Omar underlined, affirming that this reflects Qatar’s unflagging commitment to upholding the Syrians’ right to live in dignity and stability.
For his part, Secretary-General of the Syrian National Movement, Dr Zakaria Malahifji, stated that Qatar’s engagement on the Syrian issue is rooted in a clear-eyed strategic vision anchored in the support of peace and stability, noting that Qatar views Syria as a critical pillar of its strategic depth.
The Qatari diplomatic and economic initiatives aim to reinvigorate the bilateral relationship to herald a breakthrough in reconstruction and deepen Arab solidarity, he said.
Dr Malahifji praised Qatar’s supportive positions towards the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Syria, emphasising that it handles the Syrian issue in a highly responsible manner and has been keen to surmount the challenges that prevent Syria’s recovery.
Hussam Taleb, a Syrian political analyst, emphasised that Qatar was among the first nations that scrambled to provide humanitarian aid to Syria through operating a relief air bridge following the fall of the previous regime.
Taleb pointed out that His Highness the Amir’s visit has created an exceptional juncture in bilateral relations and contributed to unlocking strategic co-operation in the energy sector. He noted the pivotal role of Qatari diplomacy in securing partial exemptions from US and European sanctions, which enabled the recommissioning of vital facilities such as the international airport.
He indicated that the international community’s confidence in Qatar constitutes an important pillar in reintegrating Syria into its Arab and international periphery.
Political and research perspectives unanimously suggest that the Qatari role in Syria goes beyond the conventional frameworks, whether for assistance or diplomatic mediation, earning a strategic nature that strives to build a new reality of enduring co-operation and significantly lay the groundwork for regional stability, in line with a clear Qatari vision that upholds the value of Arab solidarity and believes in the importance of supporting peoples in their ordeals for the sake of a better future.
A view of downtown Damascus. (File photo)
