Prime Minister: Doha Forum No Longer Space to Share Perspectives

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani emphasized that the Doha Forum 2024, has gone beyond being merely a space to share perspectives to become a global platform that gathers leaders and surmounts global challenges, in addition to exploring solutions at a time challenges are intertwined, and paths are becoming more complex.

Welcoming the participants during the opening of the forum at the Sheraton Doha Hotel, he pointed out that in a world where events have rapidly evolved and crises have escalated in an unprecedented way, there is a sore need to return to fundamental principles by creating novel solutions for peace, stability and development, adding that from here comes the option for the slogan: "The Innovation Imperative.", in recognition of profound challenges facing humanity, as the world needs a new vision that anticipates future and effectively faces the reality.

He affirmed that Previous experiences have proven that adhering to the traditional approach to dealing with intractable crises will only lead to reproducing the same challenges, and perhaps exacerbating them. In this regard, he stressed the necessity of moving towards innovative solutions to various fundamental issues, including political, security, environmental and others, starting from the root causes, taking into account the principles and benefiting from the available tools, and exploring the opportunities provided by emerging technologies.

This event convenes while the world stands at a crossroads of critical decisions, either surrendering to the cycle of violence that many regions around the world are grappling with or innovating new solutions that ensure the end of the current violence and lay a solid foundation for enduring peace and fair prosperity and guarantee stability for future generations, he said.

His Excellency highlighted that Gaza is undoubtedly a stark model of this violent cycle, an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy, but also a genocide that happens under the watch of the world which would have dangerous repercussions threatening the entire region, as demonstrated in Lebanon, triggering the nations to ask crucial questions about the effectiveness of conventional means in dealing with conflicts, as these questions become more urgent with each passing day.

He noted the ongoing humanitarian tragedy in Gaza whose repercussions are extending to Lebanon and Syria, thereby precipitating every single possible effort to put an end to it, highlighting that the pause that was achieved through a joint mediation efforts from Qatar, Egypt and the United States that led to releasing hostages and mitigating the humanitarian suffering, have proved the potential for diplomatic success which exists whenever the necessary will is present.

He emphasized that this success has been reinforced by other achievements of Qatar, such as reuniting children affected by the Russia-Ukraine war with their families, providing a practical example of how innovative diplomacy can achieve concrete results.

These successes echo Qatar's vision in dealing with crises from an overall perspective, centered around human being, which encompasses the conflict from its diverse aspects, humanitarian, economic, political, and field-related, and seeks partial solutions that lead to comprehensive resolution, breaks down causes of conflicts into files that can be addressed.

Successive crises have revealed the magnitude of the gap between traditional methods and systems and the rapidly accelerating contemporary challenges, he outlined, emphasizing that the world today is in urgent need of advanced institutions for international cooperation, which go beyond traditional frameworks and rely on principles of justice and inclusivity, while benefiting from tools of the digital age.

He emphasized that a serious and candid stance is required in the face of the changes of this era, adding that peoples of the region are living in an age of massive technological advancements that characterize the era, and albeit their vast potential, they bring emerging challenges and threats, such as the potential mishandling of AI, digital finance, unmanned aerial and maritime vehicles, and other new technologies and innovations.

He stressed that everything possible should be done to ensure that these technologies remain tools to drive economic development and promote peace and human welfare, wondering that while the painful paradox lies here, how can a world that boasts of its technological achievements stand helpless in the face of civilian adversities in conflict areas, how can an international community that speaks of innovation fails, or be incapable of finding effective mechanisms to protect lives and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.

He stated that converging decision-makers, innovators, thinkers, and civil society leaders in this forum, underscores deep belief that innovative solutions stem from interaction of ideas and integration of visions and experiences, since it is not just a platform for dialogue, but rather a platform for creativity, a laboratory for innovative ideas, and a starting point for innovative solutions that are needed today.

He stressed the ability to strengthen reliance on ethical foundations and find solutions to today's challenges with renewed thinking, stressing that in times of major transformations, renewal is no longer an option, but an existential necessity. Necessity is the mother of invention, not only in the fields of science and engineering, but also in peacemaking and diplomatic work, he explained.

Institutions and nations that cling to the methods and tools of the past will be less influential, he warned affirming that true innovation must remain directed toward serving all humanity, as well as achieving peace, justice, and prosperity.

In his closing remarks, he called on the participants to explore new horizons for joint action, stating that the future depends on the ability to innovate for peace and sustainable development.

(QNA)