The UK will be working closely with the Qatari government to give Syrian refugees access to education, as well as employment opportunities, UK ambassador Ajay Sharma said yesterday.
The project is part of the London Conference’s objectives set on February 4 which will be co-hosted by the UK. It also aims to get international funding for humanitarian efforts in Syria.
Sharma cited Qatar’s interest in educating out of school youth, especially with the presence of Education Above All Initiative, a global Qatar-based initiative founded by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser in 2012.
Qatar has been continuously giving assistance to Syrians and helping other countries in the region through Qatar Charity and the Qatar Red Crescent Society, among others.
“Our ambitious aim is by the end of educational year, 2016-2017, that all Syrian refugee children will have access to education,” he said.
The Conference also wants to make sure that financial commitments will be on multi-year to enable countries hosting refugees to plan for the future.  
The United Nation’s (UN) campaign launched last year has failed to raise enough money for humanitarian help in Syria, which needs more aid now, according to Sharma.
Other hosts of the conference include the Emir of Kuwait, chancellor of Germany, prime minister of Norway and the secretary general of the UN.
The focus of the event, Sharma noted, is also to highlight the importance of stopping attacks on civilians and ensuring respect for humanitarian law and relief.
“That is one area we are looking to work closely with Qataris given both their interest politically on the resolution of the Syrian crisis but also in terms of their interest in education and support for educational initiatives globally,” the envoy said.
Sharma, who has been in the British diplomatic service for more than 20 years, was the deputy UK nuclear negotiator to the Iran E3 + 3 talks. He was earlier posted in Turkey, Russia, France, and most recently in Iran before going to Doha.
He believes the conflicts in the region such as the case of Yemen and Syria also affect the stability and security back home.
“Syria is very much on people’s mind back in the UK, not only from a political perspective but also from a humanitarian perspective,” he said, adding that the recent ministerial visit to Qatar also tackled on working together not only to help Syria but other countries as well.
About Saudi Arabia and Iran breaking their diplomatic relations, Sharma hopes both countries will find a way of reducing tensions soon.
“I very much support the idea of reducing tensions and having a dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran so they can address their issues because that would benefit the rest of the region, and also globally,” he said.
About Iran’s overall foreign policy, the envoy pointed out that it wants to have better relations with the GCC countries and see stability in the region.
About the UK’s stand on Qatar hosting the World Cup, Sharma said they are supporting “a successful 2022 World Cup in Qatar.”
“We want to be part of it, we are trying to qualify for it when time comes, and we want to help build it just as we are supporting the other projects which forms part of the 2030 National Vision,” he added.
About the possibility of leaving the European Union (EU), he said a referendum is expected to be held this year but it will not be an issue for UK-Qatar relationship.
He stressed that UK, whether it is in EU or not, will continue to be interested in taking forward its relationship with Qatar.
“We hope that Qatar will similarly be interested in taking forward its relationship with Britain. We have so much in common and we have so much to do together.”