Qatar’s ambassador to the United States has underlined the principles of the foreign policy of the country, stressing that it aims to play a positive role in building peace and maintaining regional stability.

Addressing a group of American and foreign students at the International Student House of Washington DC, which works for enhancing cultural exchange and international relations, Mohamed Jaham al- Kuwari said that the Middle East is at a crossroads as security and peace are affected, referring to the a number of regional countries that suffer from sectarian rift, wars and terrorism.

Al-Kuwari said in order to face the increasing challenges, new forms of authority from outside the traditional and military power that are more innovative should be adopted.

He said states’ policies, in general, are based on joining big alliances and investing their national wealth and resources to ensure a greater independence of their foreign policies and influence, explaining that these two examples of policies compliment the strategy of Qatar’s foreign policy.

The ambassador noted that Qatar participates in a regional alliance (the Gulf Co-operation Council) and the international alliance and in the meantime adopts an independent foreign policy with a dynamic diplomacy encouraging political movement in the state and the region.

He also referred to the role of Qatar as a reliable peace mediator in the region, stressing that the Qatari mediations in regional conflicts were fair and impartial and that they won the confidence of all government and non-government parties. He said Qatar managed to release Arab and foreign hostages in the region including international peacekeepers and US journalists.

On relations with Iran, ambassador al-Kuwari said Qatar maintains good relations with Teheran and always urges a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear conflict, referring in this respect to Doha call last year’s for a dialogue with Iran for ending differences through focusing on joint interests.

Al-Kuwari stressed that Qatar managed to build a unique foreign policy not based on historical relations and not governed by big events or military operations, but small and gradual steps, and painful in some cases, towards change and progress.

“This is what we endeavoured for in Syria since the biginning of the conflict through calling on the Syrian regime to open doors gradually for political and civilian reforms”, al-Kuwari said adding: “In exchange we have been keen on providing humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people”. He said such efforts succeeded in establishing health programmes and educational initiatives to help the Syrian people.

On the situation in Yemen, al-Kuwari reaffirmed Qatar’s efforts to bring an peaceful settlement to the conflict and pave the way for a joint international effort to re-build the country.