Doha: The Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Lolwah Al Khater participated in a virtual panel discussion titled A Gulf Apart The Geopolitics of European-Gulf Relations hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations.
In her opening remarks, Al khater underscored Qatars global efforts to repatriate stranded citizens and ship medical and humanitarian aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the illegal airspace blockade. Qatar has provided urgent medical shipments to 21 countries, and over 1.8 million passengers were transported safely to their homes by Qatar Airways.
On the consequences of the blockade, she asserted that it is a lose-lose situation, and while Qatar is able to sustain economically, it understands that the lack of communication and cooperation will have a negative impact on other issues.
The Assistant Foreign Minister stated that the accumulated issues in the region require regional ownership and a holistic approach, as the issues are interconnected in their nature.
HE Al khater was joined by HE Alistair Burt, Former Minister of State for the Middle East at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and a number of ECFR members.
