Newspapers Appreciate Qatar's Role in Leading Multilateral Talks on Afghanistan's Developments

Doha, September 06 (QNA) - Qatari newspapers published Monday hailed Qatar's role in leading the multilateral talks on the developments in Afghanistan, and its pivotal role in coordinating joint international efforts, whether in evacuation operations, the provision of humanitarian aid and the operation of Kabul Airport. The newspapers noted HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's meeting with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the friendly Italian Republic Luigi Di Maio, who expressed thanks and appreciation for the State of Qatar's role and efforts in evacuating civilians and supporting the peace process in Afghanistan. Al-Watan newspaper said in its editorial today that the global praise for Qatar's stance on Afghan developments continues, as it played an influential role as a neutral mediator in this crisis, referring to HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, who expressed during his meeting with HH the Amir the Italian Republic's thanks and appreciation to HH for the State of Qatar's role and efforts in facilitating the evacuation of Italian citizens from Afghanistan. The newspaper noted what a Senior Research Fellow at the Soufan Center in New York Colin Clarke said that the Qataris have earned a reputation as honest brokers who are willing to help multiple warring parties to find a way to end these conflicts, and that Doha is the place to make a deal, as it has grown into the Geneva of the Middle East, a place where warring parties can meet on neutral territory. The State of Qatar has also received, in less than ten days, the foreign ministers of Germany, the Netherlands, Britain and Italy, the paper added. Al-Watan concluded by saying that if Afghan developments have contributed to the emergence of the Qatari role, Doha has made great efforts during the past years, whether in Lebanon, Palestine or Sudan, and was able to achieve many successes, noting that what we see today is a continuation of a policy that has won the respect of the entire world. In its editorial, Al-Sharq daily said that the State of Qatar's efforts provided western countries with channels to keep the dialogue open with Taliban, pointing out that this prompted many of these countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, to move their embassies from Kabul to Doha to facilitate contacts with the Taliban, so that Qatar remains a key mediator in dealing with the Afghan file. The paper underlined Qatar's role in leading the multilateral talks on Afghanistan's developments, and its pivotal role in coordinating joint international efforts, whether in evacuation operations, the provision of humanitarian aid and the operation of Kabul Airport, or in the peace process and comprehensive settlement, noting its distinguished reputation as an honest and impartial mediator. The paper referred to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's meeting on Sunday morning at his Amiri Diwan office with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the friendly Italian Republic Luigi Di Maio. It also referred to the telephone conversation HH the Amir received from HE Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Imran Khan, who expressed thanks and appreciation to HH for the efforts exerted by the State of Qatar in support of the peace process in Afghanistan, and praised its role in the evacuation operations of the civilians. In conclusion, Al-Sharq said that during a week, many foreign ministers from western countries visited Doha, such as foreign ministers of Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain, stressing that these visits and contacts reflect Qatar's position and influential role on the international scene after its success in securing the safe passage of thousands of western nationals and Afghan civilians and in coordinating evacuation efforts, as well as becoming a bridge of communication between western countries and the Afghan Taliban. In turn, Qatari English-language newspaper The Peninsula stressed that the State of Qatar is investing its friendly relations with world nations in promoting cooperation to build bridges between peoples and countries. The paper noted HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's meeting on Sunday with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic Luigi Di Maio, where they reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to support them, indicating that the visit is a valuable occasion that pushes forward the solid bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Italy, opening more fields and horizons to expand and strengthen bilateral ties. The newspaper underlined that the Italian Minister expressed his countrys thanks and appreciation to HH the Amir for the role and efforts of the State of Qatar in facilitating the evacuation of Italian citizens from Afghanistan. Many diplomats frequently visit Doha, the newspaper pointed out, particularly following the rapid change of the situation in Afghanistan and the Talibans takeover of the entire country, adding that Doha has long been a venue for engagement and became the center of diplomatic activity with respect to Afghan issue for over a decade. The Peninsula concluded its Monday editorial by saying that Qatari-Italian relations, since opening of embassies in the capitals of the two countries in 1992, are witnessing rapid and solid development in all fields and both countries turned ties into strategic partnership thanks to the keenness of the leaderships of the two countries to serve the aspirations and common interests of their friendly peoples. (QNA)