A number of ambassadors have hailed Qatar's accession to Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue partner, highlighting the country's growing role in achieving peace and security at regional and international levels.In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Russian ambassador in Doha Dmitry Dogadkin affirmed that Qatar's accession to the SCO signifies the increasingly prominent role that the country has played both regionally and globally as a mediator in various conflicts, as well as a responsible global actor, facilitating a more peaceful and secure world for all.He said: "We are certain that both Qatar and SCO have a lot to offer to each other in many aspects and will mutually benefit from this cooperation."Over the past two decades, Qatar has emerged as one of the most prominent mediators in the world, successfully helping negotiate peace in a wide array of conflicts and disputes in Sudan, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, and Afghanistan, including most recently, Gaza. Since October 2023, Qatar's continuous efforts in bringing the sides to the conflict together for talks and bridging gaps between the two parties cannot be understated, he added.The ambassador also expressed his gratitude for Qatar's noble humanitarian efforts by stating, "I cannot but mention that, thanks to our Qatari friends good offices, a number of Russian families separated by the conflict in Ukraine have been reunited, and were graciously hosted in Doha in April to partake in a programme of rehabilitation."Mediation requires great patience and tactfulness to be successful. It is not for everyone, but Qatar has proved its capabilities in this regard. Thanks to its proactive foreign policy, it has soared very high both regionally and internationally, he highlighted."The Qatari leadership has set an ambitious goal for Qatar to become an indispensable, 'one-of-a-kind' mediator with a worldwide portfolio. I wholeheartedly believe that Qatar's capability and dedication match the ambitiousness of this noble goal," he said.Chinese ambassador to Qatar Cao Xiaolin emphasised his country's great interest in developing relations with Qatar and its readiness to co-operate with the country in enhancing the role of the SCO, after officially becoming a dialogue partner of the SCO in 2022. This comes as China prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the SCO following the SCO Summit in Kazakhstan."Qatar holds significant influence in the Arab world and is an important member of numerous international organisations, actively contributing to regional stability and friendly cooperation among nations. In September 2022, Qatar officially became a Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which is warmly welcomed by China," the ambassador said in an interview, adding that Qatar has actively engaged in SCO-related activities.China looks forward to working with Qatar to enhance its role in the SCO based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, respect for diverse civilizations, pursuit of common development, and strive for international and regional peace and development, he added.In regard to China's view of Qatar's success in mediating conflicts in numerous regions worldwide, " Over the past three decades, Qatar has successfully mediated dozens of conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, contributing to the de-escalation of tensions, effective settlement of conflicts, and facilitating family reunions for displaced individuals. These efforts have received high praises from the international community, and mediation diplomacy has become a shining hallmark of Qatar on the global stage," he said.Despite the ongoing war in Gaza, Qatar's relentless efforts to promote ceasefire agreements have been highly commended by the international community, the ambassador highlighted.Indian ambassador to Qatar Vipul highlighted Qatar's accession to the SCO, pointing out that hopes are rising that Qatar will contribute effectively to promoting the organisation's goals.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the ambassador said: "India held the presidency of SCO for the first time last year and promoted the theme of SCO-SECURE which stands for Security, Economic development, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and Environmental protection. We hope to continue our work on all these themes in SCO, including with Qatar.""We believe that dialogue and diplomacy are the best way of enhancing international peace and security. Qatar's active regional and international diplomacy is well acknowledged across the world. We have always appreciated the deep insights shared by Qatar on the regional situation," he added.Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic Marat Nuraliev confirmed that Qatar has proven itself as a very honest mediator who seeks to resolve conflicts in the world fairly, which has led to strengthening its position in the region and the whole world.In remarks to QNA, he said that Qatar's accession to the SCO allows it to participate in relevant events within the organization at the invitation of member states.He added that within the framework of the organization, mutual trust, friendship, and cooperation can be strengthened with member states, as well as dialogue partner countries, including Qatar, to maintain and enhance peace, security, and stability in the region.Tajik ambassador Nurmurod Mahmadali emphasised that Tajikistan is keen on supporting Qatar's initiatives within the framework of the SCO, noting the steadfast development in the bilateral relations across various fields supported by the leadership of the two friendly countries.In his remarks to QNA, the ambassador said that Qatar has become an active member within the SCO, as Tajikistan has supported its accession process from the beginning. He added that Tajikistan is counting on Qatar to work with the member states of the organisation to carry out joint activities of a political, economic, and humanitarian nature.Uzbekistan's ambassador Ashraf Khodjaev said that Qatar's accession to the SCO as a dialogue partner came as a result of its robust economy and visionary investment strategy which prioritises innovation and sustainability in sectors like renewable energy, infrastructure and digital technology.In a statement to QNA, the ambassador said that the country fully supports Qatar's accession to the SCO, stressing that Qatar's open and balanced foreign policy promotes peace and stability globally, avoiding international or regional conflicts and disputes with neighbors.Khodjaev noted that Qatar shares the SCO's core principles of non-alignment, openness, equality and counter-based decision-making, adding that the country's involvement will help achieve the SCO's goals.He said that Qatar, under the wise and visionary leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has established itself as a key player regionally and internationally, particularly through its successful mediations in global disputes. He pointed out that Qatar's diplomatic approach and strategic initiatives have earned a strong reputation for promoting peace and stability in conflict-ridden areas.
July 04, 2024 | 12:32 AM