EU ambassador lauds Qatar's role in regional de-escalation
Ashraf Siddiqui
HE Dr Cristian Tudor, the ambassador of the European Union to the State of Qatar, has expressed strong appreciation of Qatar's vital mediation efforts in Gaza and its broader role in regional de-escalation, acknowledging Qatar as a leader in global conflict mediation.
The EU envoy was addressing a gala dinner he hosted at W Hotel Doha to celebrate Europe Day coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration—a cornerstone of European integration.
Present on the occasion were HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani, Minister of Transport of the State of Qatar; HE Ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro, Director of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar; ambassadors; members of the business community, and guests.
Talking about the celebrations, the delegation of the European Union to the State of Qatar said the EU celebrates this day every year on the 9th of May—the choice of peace, unity and cooperation that European leaders made following two devastating World Wars.
'Unfortunately, we are still traumatised by two ongoing tragedies in Ukraine and Gaza. For this reason, our celebration takes on added significance, as we reaffirm our strong commitment to protecting and promoting peace and justice within Europe and beyond. In this endeavour, Qatar has been a vital strategic partner,' the EU envoy said.
Dr Tudor also expressed gratitude for Qatar's involvement in securing the release of EU citizens. 'The EU reaffirmed that sustainable peace requires addressing the root causes of conflict, particularly rejecting forced displacements and ensuring that future governance in Gaza supports peace, stability, and the well-being of Palestinians. The EU reiterated its position that a lasting solution lies in the coexistence of a sovereign State of Palestine and a secure State of Israel.'
The envoy said that recent high-level diplomatic engagement has reflected the deepening EU-Qatar relationship. 'Notably, the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani co-chaired the inaugural EU-GCC Summit in Brussels on October 16, 2024. The summit marked a significant milestone in EU-GCC relations and spotlighted shared priorities such as trade, climate action, digitalisation, energy, and regional security. On a bilateral level, the visits of key EU envoys and directors demonstrated growing cooperation, particularly in humanitarian aid and energy.'
Talking about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, he said the EU's partnership with Qatar is increasingly important in defending international law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Ukraine, standing at the front line of the rules-based international order, was commended for its role in defending European security.
The EU envoy said that economic relations between the EU and Qatar have continued to thrive, with bilateral trade reaching record levels, expressing confidence in Qatar's Vision 2030, anticipating new opportunities to broaden economic cooperation, especially in energy security.
Furthermore, he acknowledged Qatar's leadership in hosting major global sporting events and emphasized the role of sport in fostering development and inclusion.
He highlighted several initiatives over the past year, including the second edition of the '(eunited) Summer Camp' for Palestinian children evacuated from Gaza, and the '(eunited) Ride for Wellness' in celebration of Qatar National Sports Day.
Additionally, the EU's cultural diplomacy efforts took center stage with the launch of the 'Frames, Reframed' EU Youth Short Film Festival in November 2024. These projects were made possible through collaboration with numerous Qatari institutions and partners, he acknowledged.
In his concluding remarks, Dr Cristian Tudor expressed deep gratitude to the member states, the delegation team, personal supporters, and the Qatari host community, thanking all attendees for joining this meaningful celebration of Europe Day.
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