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Quarterly magazine published by the Diplomatic Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1st issue, March 2012

The Diplomacy http://di.mofa.gov.qa

Commencing the First Training Program for Diplomats

The

Doha Hosts the International Conference for Defending Al-Quds

Diplomatic Institute

A New Start to the Future

Sports Day : The Foreign Ministry is at the Heart of the Event

Recently Issued By The Diplomatic Institute

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Changes in the Arab World and their Repercussions on the U.S, the West, Israel and Palestine, "Peace Process".

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www.di.mofa.go

Quarterly magazine published by the Diplomatic Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1st issue, March 2012

The Diplomacy http://di.mofa.gov.qa

Commencing the First Training Program for Diplomats

The

Doha Hosts the International Conference for Defending Al-Quds

Diplomatic Institute

A New Start to the Future

Sports Day : The Foreign Ministry is at the Heart of the Event

Quarterly magazine published by the Diplomatic Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1st issue, March 2012

General Supervisor Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah State Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Editor in Chief

Dr. Hasan bin Ibrahim Al-Mohannadi

Director of the Diplomatic Institute

Publisher:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Diplomatic Institute

For more information Please Contact us : State of Qatar-Doha P.O.Box 250 Tel. : +974 40112500 Fax : +974 40112511 Email : Diplomacy@mofa.gov.qa Website : http://di.mofa.gov.qa All correspondence on behalf of the Editor in Chief

Published articles reflect the views of writers and do not necessarily reflect the considerations of the magazine

Editorial Qatari foreign policy has recently experienced a visible active role in both the international and regional spheres. This was clearly demonstrated when Qatar's diplomatic efforts succeeded in defusing several disputes and conflicts, as well as affecting peace and reconciliation in a number of Arab and Islamic countries. Qatar has also actively participated in peacekeeping forces in areas experiencing tensions; moreover, its outstanding role in promoting international development through aid and assistance for nations suffering from natural disasters and the scourge of wars and armed conflicts.

Our belief in the importance of the role of media in general, and the written press in particular, in keeping pace with the paradigm shift that has been achieved by Qatar's diplomacy, and its dissemination of political awareness among the Foreign Ministry staff, has created political consciousness and creative contemplation amongst all levels of diplomats, which forms a cornerstone in the success of Qatar’s diplomacy. It also encourages dialogue that is related to the fundamentals of diplomatic craft and its concepts.

Furthermore, it deepens diplomats’ methods of study and analysis.

In the Diplomatic Institute, and under the new organizational structure of the Foreign Ministry, we have decided to issue a quarterly magazine to introduce the achievements of Qatar's diplomacy and its efforts in various fields. "The Diplomat Magazine" would cover news of the Foreign Ministry and its activities; including Qatar's embassies abroad. In addition, publication of articles and reports reviewing a number of political and economic issues of interest to the State of Qatar, the gulf area and the Arab world as well as various related sections connected to external policy and international cooperation, that we hope will benefit its readers and enhance their political education.

Finally, while you look through the first issue of "The Diplomat Magazine", it is my pleasure to invite all authors, experts, and diplomats who work at both the Ministry and our diplomatic missions abroad, to contribute to the enrichment of this magazine by articles that address the most important related topics to diplomatic work, international cooperation, foreign policy, and current international developments and changes with their implications for both the international and regional arenas.

Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah State Minister for Foreign Affairs

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Doha Hosts

the International Conference for Defending Al-Quds

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Sports Day: The Foreign Ministry is at the Heart of the Event

Commencing the First Training Program for Diplomats

Qatar and the Policy of Rational Interaction

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27

Underhand Diplomacy in Explorersďż˝ Disguise

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The Iranian Threats of Blocking the Strait of Hormuz

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The Security Situation in the Gulf Cooperation Council States (GCC)

23 The Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012

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17 DAG HAMMARSKJOLD The former Secretary-General of the United Nations

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From the Political Dictionary

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Spotlight on the United Nation

Follow-ups

Training is a priority in the Foreign Ministry to establish a base for ambitious youth, qualified to serve in the Diplomatic Corps.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Opens The Diplomatic Institute Commencing the First Training Program for Diplomats with 27 Trainees

4 The Diplomacy

Follow-ups

His Excellency the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, opened the Diplomatic Institute in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 24th ,2012.

The opening ceremony was attended by HE the Assistant Minister for International Cooperation, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed bin Jabor Al-Thani, HE the Assistant Minister for Services Affairs Rashid bin Khalifa bin Mohamed Al-Khalifa and a number of directors of the departments in the Foreign Ministry.

The Institute is considered as a paradigm step in responding to Qatar�s vision for 2030, and in the same context, indicates aspiring strategic dimensions in the training field in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the opening ceremony of the Diplomatic Institute, His Excellency Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, started the first training program for Ministry

of Foreign Affairs staff, for which 27 trainees enrolled. This program is the first activity, which started shortly after the opening of the Institute.

Addressing the young Qatari trainees, HE Al-Attiyah referred to the progress and success that Qatar’s diplomacy has achieved, “thanks to the directives of HH the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa AlThani, HH the Crown Prince, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, in promoting the diplomatic service".

Competencies Are Behind the Paradigm Leap Taken By Diplomacy.

In his welcoming speech, HE Dr. Al-Attiyah said: The announcement of the birth of the Institute has really brought to fruition an old idea that hadn’t left the imagination of the Foreign Ministry of Qatar. In fact, a number of aspiring officials in the Ministry have realized this idea is to benefit from the Qatari competencies that characterize self-dependency in both the diplomatic corps as well as that of the administrative corps ; in order to build up sufficient capabilities for every person in his/ her respective area of specialty whilst every individual is considered an ideal in his field. Therefore, we must make use of these proficiencies and transfer their experiences to the new generation of the Foreign Ministry staff.

Qatari competencies in the Foreign Ministry should not be held back from the new generation for we don’t want to suffer the same hardships that their predecessors did when they pursued building up

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Follow-ups their capabilities and achieving their proficiency and experience in every field they worked in. Rather, we want this new generation in the Ministry to have their task simplified with any difficulties strewn en route overcome in order to promote their capabilities and achieve self-fulfillment. Moreover, to meet the aspirations of Qatar’s vision for 2030, and mostly to set up a second tier of staff that will be complementary to its predecessors and fully acquainted with all necessary experience in diplomatic affairs, Qatar is intending to deliver as a message to the world. In addition, HE pointed to the efforts that had been exerted by the pioneers of the Ministry who served for long years. HE the Minister, stressed that the State of Qatar has managed to demonstrate an outstanding performance in the diplomatic arena which he attributed to the qualified staff who served in various posts in the Ministry. Furthermore, as everybody acknowledges, Qatar has been able to accomplish a qualitative leap that is attributed to these proficiencies that have honored their job as well as Qatar’s image, during years of hard and painstaking work for the sake of the homeland.

HE also underlined that “the priority will always be given to training, by officials in the Ministry, even after graduation. Officials will then determine the route for graduates, either to serve in the diplomatic corps or in the administration. This is contrary to criteria previously adopted.

The Diplomatic Institute would now determine the field of specialty for each graduate according to accurate facts".

HE added: “All efforts are now focused on establishing a base of ambitious youth to work hard and diligently in order to achieve the degree of capacities and competencies required by the work, along with the pioneers in the Ministry, who in their turn, will receive training programs appropriate to their standards.”

“We in the Ministry, pursue to evolve

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We Hope to Use “We", Instead of “I" competencies, since the Diplomatic Institute is the sole body to decide, according to certain standards and determinants, whether an employee would better serve in the administrative field or in the diplomatic corps abroad,” HE said. “Furthermore, focus will be on outstanding male/ female graduates who are capable to diligently represent Qatar. Then, comes the less distinguished to represent Qatar in another location."

HE underlined "distinction" in the Ministry is the shorter way, but a sole one, for being delegated abroad, HE said. “In addition, every employee in the Ministry has a line from the beginning of his career till the end, based on the fact, of “work and reach“, as the Ministry is capable in providing the necessary means, tools, and good conditions, but cannot hinder any employee’s personal development because this comes from within “, HE added.

“Everybody hopes to cancel the word “I" and change it into “We", since the success of everyone in the Ministry

is a success for all; at the same time, the failure of any one also means a failure for all. I hope that this will be adopted as a strategy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; indicating that the amount of benefit from the programs, the means and appropriate conditions provided by the Ministry are the only way which will upgrade the skills of any employee", HE stated.

I n r e s p o nse to the question of improvement in communications between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the media, and whether the Foreign Ministry has set up a publicity plan to pace the successes that are achieved

by Qatar, HE stated: “The Ministry’s strategy, in the past, was based on working silently to accomplish its objectives; furthermore, we were not willing to publicize or speak out about what we were doing in the State of Qatar. However, due to the current acceleration of events in the world on the one hand, and the paradigm shift in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the other, and thanks to the guidance of HH the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HH the Crown Prince, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, it has been decided

Follow-ups to establish a “Press Office" in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within the new organizational structure», HE declared. This office is not the only source of publicity about foreign policy or the orientation of the State of Qatar. We are considering a weekly or monthly «briefing» to be attended by the residing ambassadors, and media personnel, so long as the «briefing» reflects the up-to-date developments and orientations of the Foreign Ministry. We have found it necessary that the residing diplomats in Qatar as well as journalists attend the briefing», HE stated.

HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs pointed out at the outset of

Al-Mohannadi: The Institute Uses the Latest Curriculums in the World to Buildup Human Resources in the Ministry his speech, at the opening of the Diplomatic Institute, to the efforts that have been exerted by his assistants, that of directors of departments, and Ambassador Dr. Hasan bin Ibrahim AlMohannadi; Director of the Diplomatic Institute.

In his turn, Dr. Hasan bin Ibrahim Al-Mohannadi, Director of the Diplomatic Institute, presented a comprehensive overview of the Institute and its vision and mission. «The Diplomatic Institute offers advanced programs for the qualification and development of human resources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to be eligible in representing Qatar properly, at international forums; to perform tasks assigned to them in an efficient manner according to Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and in line with the developments in the diplomatic service using the latest scientific, technical means and curriculums which are applied worldwide», he said.

“The targeted message, for which the Institute was established, is working

to buildup and promote human resources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the upgrading of its employees’ capabilities and scientific knowledge that are essential to implement their assignments adequately. This will be accomplished through the persistent development of qualification and training programs in terms of means of its presentation and develop the capacity of supervisors, and their contribution to the preparation of studies and specialized research in the field of international cooperation, in a manner that would help in making the right decisions in foreign affairs», he added.

training programs for foreign affairs, international cooperation and services, in line with the requirements that respond to the mobilization of the staff for working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Furthermore, to conduct studies and research at both the international and regional levels in areas of diplomacy and international, political and

Al-Mohannadi said: «The terms of reference of the Institute are to prepare, qualify, and train the staff in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work in the diplomatic, consular missions and international cooperation; in addition to contributing to the preparation of diplomats and all those working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and for their acquisition of the skills necessary to achieve this end, as well as upgrading their knowledge, both theoretical and applied proficiencies by organizing and conducting training and learning courses, and special qualification programs. In addition, the Institute will design and implement

economic relations, and other relevant topics, and examine what comes out of regional and international groupings, research and studies centers, then, analyze it and provide officials with opinion about research as far as it is related to the implementation of the State’s foreign policy».

He also added: «The Institute is interested in collaborating with relevant ministries, government agencies and bodies, public and private institutions of public interest in the State, in ways that will enable the Institute to achieve its objectives.

In addition, it would cooperate and coordinate with counterpart

The Institute specializes in Preparing and Qualifying the Foreign Ministry Staff in the Areas of the Diplomatic, Consular Services and International Cooperation.

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Follow-ups universities and institutes inside the State and abroad in all areas that meet the objectives of the Institute. It would hold conferences, symposiums, scientific meetings, seminars, and it would participate in meetings, conferences and seminars relevant to the objectives of the Institute, inside and outside the State. With regards to training courses the Institute plans to organize, it aims to support the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in qualifying the newly enrolled staff in the Ministry as well as the veteran staff who are in need of rehabilitation in order to allow everyone to perform assignments efficiently and effectively. Additionally, it would represent the country on a base of learning and knowledge, and bed rocked in faith in homeland related issues and its national identity through qualitative training programs as well as specializing in different aspects of the work in the Ministry. Among these tasks, - “adds Al-Mohannadi – it" would increase knowledge of trainees in concepts of international relations and would introduce trainees to the grounds and procedures that govern dealing with other countries and international organizations and bodies.

In addition, enhancing and promoting the practical experience of the trainees through delegating them into international, Arab and regional organizations and bodies, to be acquainted with the ways and means of multilateral diplomacy, and to furnish trainees with skills of preparing reports and diplomatic work-related reporting. Also, relations of economic and investment cooperation, setting up programs for technical assistance programs, and negotiating tactics, conclusion of agreements and treaties, and to enable trainees to realize the outstanding experience in the field of diplomatic work; promotion of communications and negotiations skills of trainees to enable them to conduct constructive dialogue that contributes in addressing common issues between the State and the international community in all areas.

8 The Diplomacy

Furthermore, having trainees attain the skills required in preparing, planning, and evaluating activities related to technical cooperation with international organizations and bodies, including contributing to the achievement of its objectives, and introducing trainees to the essence of: international economic relations, the nature of developmental aids, the bases of providing and follow-up in accordance with valid international criteria, and recognition of models of evaluation and follow-up of

The Institute to Issue Studies on Political and Developmental Issues developmental aids».

Al-Mohannadi explained: «The Institute is to issue assessment studies, this year, on the status of Qatar within the international indicators with regards to: transparency, environmental sustainability, economic knowledge, political stability, and human development. In addition, The institute will prepare studies on Qatar›s relationship with regions, international groupings; the Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab World, European Union, and ASEAN countries, in the political, economic, and investment area, and the international community in various domains.

The Institute intends to introduce studies on current political, social and economic issues, to be a reference to political decision-makers in the State. A Yearbook will be issued by the Institute in January every year, which includes the annual activities and programs being implemented by the Institute in the fields of training, research, studies, and organization of seminars and lectures. The Diplomatic Institute also organizes seminars and lectures that aim to contribute to rising awareness and the promotion of thinking and dialogue about the concepts and foundations of the diplomatic service between

professionals and community groups, as well. Moreover, it is scheduled to organize symposiums and seminars on current international and regional developments in the political and economic spheres. Also, it intends to host some intellectuals, politicians and experts in the field of diplomatic service to deliver lectures about their own experience and opinions in political and economic matters as well as the current mission».

The first activities of the Diplomatic Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been launched by organizing a training program to prepare and qualify staff in the diplomatic and consular corps, as well as the field of international cooperation. This program consists of 19 training courses and is planned to end on the 3rd of May 2012. The focus areas of the training program courses are due to be on theoretical subjects which include a detailed explanation of international law and work of international organizations, diplomatic and consular dealings, treaties, the means of peaceful compromise of international disputes, international economic relations, international cooperation, and development assistance and human rights, as well. Furthermore, courses in Arabic, English and French languages. These courses will also concentrate on training materials that explain the functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its organizational structure, the functions and duties of other departments and duties of other employees.

Foreign policy comes in the forefront, as well as protocol, etiquette, sustainable development in the State of Qatar, media, communications, security information, reports and correspondence. Finally, and among the Institute›s plans, it intends to arrange specialized seminars, that aim at contributing to spread awareness, upgrade thinking and dialogue of the concepts and foundations of diplomatic service particularly amongst specialists and amongst society in general.

Follow-ups

Sports Day: The Foreign Ministry is at the Heart of the Event

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Follow-ups In an atmosphere characterized with vitality and competition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the events celebrating Sports Day on February 14th, 2012, in the presence of His Excellency, Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, with a large presence of assistants, Ministry staff, heads and members of diplomatic and consular missions and their families.

The events took place in a marquee erected by the Ministry on Celebration Road in Al Kharaitiyat area. The celebration was commemorated by playing the National Anthem of The State of Qatar, thence the march began which extended over two and half kilometers.

On returning to the celebration marquee the participants took a healthy breakfast which included a variety of foods. After which, His Excellency Dr. Al-Attiyah delivered a welcoming statement for the occasion, where he extended his gratitude to His Highness the Heir Apparent for this kind gesture and valuable tradition, to which he asked everyone to pay appropriate attention. "Sports are considered one of the most outstanding tools and methods of popular diplomacy that have become complementary to the government’s official diplomacy", he added, "and even more deeply effective than the latter, since they are considered to be as widely spread and more effective. Moreover, they contribute in instilling basic values and spreads the ideals of tolerance, reconciliation, cooperation and mutual respect", he said.

In addition, they play a vital role for individuals as well as society.

His Excellency emphasized the fact that advocating a special day for sports is deemed to be a real interpretation of Qatar›s national vision that is attempting

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to invest in human resources in order to prepare a physically and psychologically healthy generation that will contribute to

Al-Attiyah: “Sports is one of the most outstanding tools and means of Popular Diplomacy.” the renaissance and development of the State by 2030.

Dr. Al-Attiyah, also added: "My colleagues, our brothers in the diplomatic corps, our friends and I, were really in need of such a day".

Dr. Al-Attiyah declared, "Sports accomplished what the round tables at the United Nations and the International Security Council together could not; whereas we have managed to meet over sports and exchange opinions". with colleagues, brothers, and friends with the same opinions as ours as well as those of different opinions.

Al-Attiyah concluded his statement by hoping to have sport as a daily practice rather than an annual event, as a result of this day and its activities and extended His Excellency’s gratitude to all participants in this important athletic occasion.

In the same context, His Excellency, The Ambassador of Lebanon to Doha and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Hassan Saad, stressed that the popular turn out in this celebration reflects the great attention to health, physical and mental activity.

In addition, Qatar has laid the corner stone for future generations to pay attention to the importance of sports in

our daily life, he added.

As part of the activities of the Ministry’s Sports Day, His Excellency honored the athletic employees in the Ministry who participated in the sporting events and those who were still members of sports teams.

After the honoring ceremony, Al -Attiyah and those in attendance walked to the sports fields adjacent to the marquee where a football match took place between a team from the Ministry and a team representing the diplomatic missions accredited to the state. The match took place in a celebratory and friendly manner.

The mission’s team was beaten by the Ministry›s team, 5 to 3.

At the end of the match, His Excellency the Minister presented both teams’ members with gold and silver medals, and crowned the winning team with the cup.

In addition, as part of this celebration, the organizing committee arranged further activities; matches in volleyball, horse and camel riding.

Doha Hosts

the International Conference for Defending Al-Quds

The International Conference for the Defense of Al-Quds was hosted by Doha, from 26 to 27 February, 2012, in the presence of 350 figures from Arab, Islamic, and foreign countries, who are concerned with Al-Quds Cause. The conference included several topics focused on the Al-Quds Cause and international law, Al-Quds and its history, Al-Quds and the settlements, the Israeli violations, and Al-Quds, and civil society organizations.

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Conferences

H.H. the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani started the opening session of the conference, by a statement in which he suggested to go to the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution setting up an International Investigation Committee to investigate all actions taken by Israel in Arab Jerusalem ‘Al-Quds’ since its occupation in 1967 with a view to wiping its Arab and Islamic landmarks. This very resolution is consistent with several previous ones issued by the Security Council, calling on Israel to give up all the actions taken for Judaizing AlQuds. The first session also included statements of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and the Arab League Secretary General, Dr. Nabil El-Arabi, and also Morocco’s

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The importance of highlighting the legal status of Al-Quds is to prove the illegality of the Israeli practices and violations in the Holy City, and for breaching all the relevant international norms

King Mohamed V statement read on behalf by the Moroccan Prime Minister.

Over the two days, many drafts were presented within the themes of the conference. The first was about the legal status of Al-Quds before and after the Israeli occupation, the current situation and the future of the Palestinian people in Al-Quds, and the status of the Holy sites under the international law. The importance of highlighting the legal status of Al-Quds is to prove the illegality of the Israeli practices and violations in the Holy City, and for breaching all the relevant international norms and conventions. Under the second theme, the speakers shed the light on the most important aspects of Al-

Conferences

Quds Cause; the historic aspect that goes back to the pre- Romanian era, in addition to its position in the three divine religions, and in the Arab identity of the Holy City, despite the archaeological forgery to confuse it with the weak Israeli account of the Jews’ historical right in Al-Quds, which should be confronted by highlighting what Al-Quds means in both the Islamic and Christian thought.

In the third theme, speakers addressed the systematic measures taken by Israel and aim at intensifying the actions of settlements and land confiscation in Eastern Al-Quds with its surroundings, and also the demographic changes being deliberately made from 1967 up to 2020, so as to establish the “Greater Al-Quds", and also to displace and dwindle the Arab population in the Eastern Al-Quds.

The Doha Declaration At the conclusion of the Conference, the Doha Declaration was issued, and below are the most important items included: 1. Saluting with high respect the Palestinian people in the city of AlQuds for their steadfastness, and firm attitude in the face of all Israeli violations of this city and its holy sites, history, and heritage.

2. Welcoming His Highness the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa alThani’s call for making Al-Quds and its freedom as the Palestinians main point and an incentive for achieving the reconciliation and ending the division.

3. Evaluating and supporting His Highness’s proposal to go to the Security Council for adopting a resolution for setting up an international committee to investigate all the actions taken by Israel since the occupation in 1967 Al-Quds with a view to wipe its Arab

and Islamic landmarks.

4. Welcoming His Highness's invitation to prepare a comprehensive and extensive strategy that covers the various sectors and projects that Al-Quds City needs, expressing the willingness of the State of Qatar to participate with all its capacities in accomplishing and putting this strategy into practice.

5. Stressing on the fact that forceful displacement of the people of AlQuds through Judaisation schemes, the denial of justice, obscuring history and heritage, looting the

The Israeli authorities should be claimed putting an end to their unilateral policies and procedures of imposing a fait accompli on the ground in the city of Al-Quds, including the immediate halt of all settlement activities and the removal of the Apartheid Wall

land, and property confiscation are all but to show the Israeli breaching of both the UN international law, and the international humanitarian law.

6. Calling upon the Swiss government, being the depositary State of the Fourth Geneva Convention in 1949 to speed up the invitation to resume the Conference of the High Contracting Parties in the Convention, to put all the resolutions of the UN General Assembly in this regard into practice, with a view to take the necessary measures to put

an end to the Israeli violations, and to protect Al-Quds with its people and Holy sites.

7. Expressing deep concern over the ongoing Israeli diggings and archaeological excavations in AlAqsa and its surroundings in the Old City, which seriously harm the distinctive character of the City in all its religious, cultural, historical and demographic levels, which are contradictory with the UNESCO and the UN resolutions and rules of the international law concerning the occupied city, especially the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property of 1954.

8. The Israeli authorities should be putting an end to their unilateral policies and procedures of imposing a fait accompli on the ground in the city of Al-Quds, including the immediate halt of all settlement activities and the removal of the Apartheid Wall in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, the preservation of Islamic and Christian sanctities, ensuring freedom of access and preventing them from making any slightest changes to the city’s geographical, political and demographic status, which if continued, would add to the judaisation schemes.

9. Calling for UNESCO to safeguard the cultural heritage of the occupied Al-Quds City on the basis of its resolutions concerning Al-Quds, and to put in practice the eighth paragraph of its Executive Board’s resolution m35 / 49, resolution m t / 12/185 m t / 14 and m t 185 / 52 amended, which calls for designating a permanent, outstanding expert or more to be based in Eastern AlQuds, so as to regularly report on all aspects related to the educational, cultural and population conditions in the Al-Quds City.

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Symposium of the Institute

The Security Situation in the Gulf Cooperation Council States (GCC)

The cultural symposia season has been started at the Diplomatic Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, 8th February, 2012, with the first symposium entitled,Âť The Security Situation in the Gulf Cooperation Council States (GCC), lectured by Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah Al Rajhi, Supervisor of the Center for Strategic Studies at the Saudi Institute of Diplomatic Studies.

14 The Diplomacy

Symposium of the Institute

He began the symposium which was run by Dr. Rabia’a Al-Kawari, a professor of media at the University of Qatar, speaking on the topic of Iran, Iraq and the issue of security and stability in the Arab Gulf. “There is no, definite concept agreed upon concerning the security of the Gulf,” he said,” all the parties involved or related to the security of the Arab Gulf have their own version of the security and perceptions of the situation and the aspects that are considered to ensure the security of the Gulf, pointing out that each side defines its concept of security of the Gulf according to its own interests, objectives and the strategy that pursues to achieve in the region. There are many powers directly or indirectly involved in the issue of Gulf security and stability. However, there are three major ones directly concerned with this issue; these are the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States, Iran, and the United States of America. In his speech, he drew attention to the fact that the strategy of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is seeking to achieve enough security and stability in the region, so as to enable them to move forward in the process of implementing the economic and social development projects.

In mentioning the concept of the Gulf security according to Iran, he said, “Security according to Iran means that the situations in the region should not threaten the Iranian national security, which indicates that these situations should be convenient for Iran to practice its role and influence as being the largest power in the region. While according to the United States, the concept of the Gulf security is that the situations in the region be neither in a state of war nor of peace or it is at least the relative stability that ensures

the continuation of the flow and safeguarding of oil supplies. It also connote that the situations in the region should be in coup with the U.S. interests within the context of the American global strategy, which was initiated since the days of President George W. Bush, about the so-called “Countering Terrorism". On this basis, the U.S. strategy is centered only on maintaining actual control over the region, so as to prevent any

splitting in Iraq. Moreover, the establishment of a Shiite state in southern Iraq will have a devastating impact on the region as it would allow igniting an unprecedented sectarian conflict in the region, as well as fueling separatism and division already existing. What is happening in the Kingdom of Bahrain is a result of that trend.

He also mentioned that the USIranian conflict on Iran’s nuclear

developments that may threaten the ‘security’ according to the US conception of the word.

Practically, this control now takes several manifestations; most notably is the occupation of Iraq, the presence of U.S. forces in the region, and the determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

program has become a source of serious threats to the entire region, regardless whatever the way the conflict may develop and the result it ends at. Even if this conflict is over at a certain point, the dangers out of the Iranian program will not stop at that point, as the environmental danger will continue its threatening the regional countries. The political effects on the regional countries will also persist. If Iran managed to produce a nuclear bomb, it would no doubt use it to blackmail, exercise pressure on these countries, and what is worse, is that that Tehran would use this tool to implement its expansive schemes in the region.

“The sectarian strife in Iraq brought in its train the threat of bringing sectarian differences and confrontations in to the open among the regional states,” he added, stressing that the escalated sectarian congestions witnessed by the region was a direct consequence of the sectarian

The Diplomacy 15

Symposium of the Institute

The Future of the Regional Security of the Arab Gulf Requires Setting Up Innovated Bases for a New Regional Security System on the Following New Bases:

Union, Afghanistan and the "new Iraq", it seems as if Russia needs to bet on GCC›s States, and in the same time keep pace with its strategic bet on Iran.

• The regional countries should work together to pave the way to get a common comprehensive vision for achieving security and tackling the regional problems on a collective and agreed upon basis, taking into account the issues concerning national sovereignty, and non-interference in the internal affairs of each country.

• Establishing mechanisms for building trust among the parties concerned, especially that Iran and Iraq are called to prove credibility to the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States, and to give up, especially Iran, the language of threats and intimidation.

• Reaching a regional agreement between the parties on the interaction between the regional security systems and those of the global security. This requires showing good and honest intentions by Iran in particular.

As for the Russian-Iranian relationships, he said, “ These relations are likely to get stronger in the future despite the slight stress they witnessed when Russia refused to object over a Security Council resolution to impose economic sanctions on Iran because it insisted on keeping its nuclear program in the shade.

Particularly that the current regime in Tehran is closer to a military option, as Iran’s support of its military power is a part of its future strategy.“

• Finding mechanisms to settle regional conflicts, according to the rules collectively agreed upon, as well as settling all disputes through peaceful means and not by force.

• Iran should prove, as it claims, that its nuclear program is for peaceful and not for military purposes.

As for Russia and the Arab Gulf, Dr. Al-Rajhi stressed that after the U.S. occupation of Iraq and the fall of President Saddam Hussein›s government in 2003, Russia lost its bet in Iraq, and all its dreams that had begun by the Soviet Union in the early seventies and continued

by Russia in the nineties of the last century, vanished. Due to the facts of the Central Asian republics that were part of the former Soviet

16 The Diplomacy

As for Russia›s relationship with the GCC, he said, “The relationship may embody three major sectors; oil industry, nuclear power projects, and programs of military armaments. However, there are some relevant obstacles and challenges showing themselves in this respect; the first is represented by the limited level of the Russian oil industrial technology, in comparison with their counterparts internationally, and the American in particular.

The second is represented by the Russian companies approach of their activity in the region, for these companies resorted to finance their investments through local banks instead of using the Russian capital".

As for the Military Cooperation between Russia and the (GCC), he said, “The most important aspect here is the possibility of providing these States with Russian effective missile capabilities; bearing in mind that the six Arab Gulf States, individually or collectively, experience a great structural imbalance on the armament level,

namely, in relation to their missile capabilities. The main reason for this is that the United States is the main weapons source of the Arab Gulf countries; and that it traditionally refrains from providing them with striking missile capabilities, probably because it is afraid that such weapons may be used against Israel in the long run.

As for the Balance of Power in the region, he pointed out that

The destruction of the Iraqi military capabilities on the one hand, and Russia's continued military relationship with Iran, especially its support for Iran's military technology, on the other hand, would lead to power imbalance in the Arab Gulf region the destruction of the Iraqi military capabilities on the one hand, and Russia›s continued military relationship with Iran, specially its support for Iran’s military technology, on the other hand, would lead to power imbalance in the Arab Gulf region, and aggravating Iran›s obduracy and obstinacy in practicing dubious roles including interference in the "GCC" internal affairs. This clearly contradicts the Gulf-Russian relations in general and the Russian-Saudi Arabian relations in particular, which necessarily weakens the bilateral relations, thus such relations in their beginnings need be strengthened by mutual trust.

DAG HAMMARSKJOLD

The former Secretary-General of the United Nations Dag Hammarskjold was born in July 29, 1905 in Jonkoping city in the middle of Sweden and his father was the Prime Minister of Sweden during the First World War. He graduated with an honors degree from the College of Fine Arts when he was 18, then he joined Uppsala University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts honors degree after he had studied French Literature, Social Philosophy and Political economy for two years. In the following three years at the same university, he studied Economics where he received a Bachelor of Philosophy in Economics. He continued his studies for two more years where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1930.

Mr. Hammarskjold then moved to Stockholm, where he became a secretary of a governmental committee on unemployment (1930-1934). At the same time, he wrote his doctor›s thesis in economics, entitled, (The Spread of the Business Cycle). In 1933, he received his doctor›s degree from the University of Stockholm, where he was made assistant professor in political economy.

The Diplomacy 17

Public Figures At the age of 31 and after having served one year as secretary in the National Bank of Sweden, Mr. Hammarskjold was appointed to the post of Permanent Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. He concurrently served as Chairman of the National Bank›s Board, from 1941 to 1948. Early in 1945, he was appointed an adviser to the Cabinet on financial and economic problems, organizing and coordinating, among other things, different governmental planning for the various economic problems that arose as a result of the war and the postwar period. During these years, Mr. Hammarskjold played an important part in shaping Sweden›s financial policy. He led a series of trade and financial negotiations with other countries, among them the United States and the United Kingdom.

In 1947 he was appointed to the Foreign Office, where he was responsible for all economic questions with rank of UnderSecretary. In 1949, he was appointed Secretary-General of the Foreign Office and in 1951, he joined the Cabinet as State Minister and became, in effect, Deputy Foreign Minister, dealing especially with economic problems and various plans for close economic cooperation.

He was a delegate to the Paris Conference in 1947, when the Marshall Plan machinery was established. He was his country›s chief delegate to the 1948 Paris Conference of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC). He was Vice-Chairman of the Swedish Delegation to the Sixth Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly in Paris 1951-1952, and acting Chairman of his country›s delegation to the Seventh General Assembly in New York in 1952-1953. On 20 December 1954, he became a member of the Swedish Academy. He was elected to take the seat in the Academy previously held by his father.

18 The Diplomacy

Mr. Hammarskjold was unanimously appointed SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations by the General Assembly on 7 April 1953 on the recommendation of the Security Council. He was reelected unanimously for another term of five years in September 1957. During his terms as Secretary-General, Mr. Hammarskjold carried out many responsibilities for the United Nations in the course of its efforts to prevent war and serve the other aims of the Charter.

The first real test for Hammarskjold as a competent Secretary-General is the Tripartite Aggression on Egypt. When the Suez Canal was nationalized and France, Britain and Israel decided to launch a military plan to eliminate the risk of Egypt on Israel and recapture the Canal to Britain and France, Hammarskjold decided to call for the Security Council to convene in order to adopt an effective situation to stop the aggression and the aggressive forces and to restore quietness to the region. He then made a brief speech, when the council was opened, that had a profound impact on the council and the whole world as he said:» The principles of the United Nations› charter are far more important than the political aims of any state, and these principles represent the first and the last reference for the Secretary-General in what he has the right to do, and the Secretary-General won›t be able to do his work unless each member state maintains its honor of commitment in respecting the United Nations› charter».

His responsibilities in the Middle East included: continuing diplomatic activity in support of the Armistice Agreements between Israel and the Arab States and to promote progress toward better and more peaceful conditions in the area; organization in 1956 of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) and its administration since then; clearance of the Suez Canal in 1957 and assistance in

the peaceful solution of the Suez Canal dispute; organization and administration of the United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL) and establishment of an office of the special representative of the Secretary-General in Jordan in 1958.

Mr. Hammarskjold also traveled to many countries of Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, either on specific assignments or to further his acquaintance with officials of member governments and the problems of various areas.

On one of these trips, from 18 December 1959 to 31 January 1960, the Secretary-General visited 21 countries and territories in Africa -- a trip he described later as «a strictly professional trip for study, for information», in which he said he had gained a «kind of crosssection of every sort of politically responsible opinion in the Africa of today».

Later in 1960, when President Joseph Kasa-Vubu of the Republic of Congo sent a cable on 13 July asking «urgent dispatch» of United Nations military assistance to the Congo, the Secretary-General addressed the Security Council at a night meeting on 13 July and asked the Council to act «with utmost speed» on the request. Following Security Council actions the United Nations Force in the Congo was established and the SecretaryGeneral himself made four trips to the Congo in connection with the United Nations operations there.

The first two trips to the Congo were made in July and August 1960. Then, in January of that year, the Secretary-General stopped in the Congo while en route to the Union of South Africa on another mission in connection with the racial problems of that country. The fourth trip to the Congo began on 12 September 1961 and terminated with the fatal plane accident which ended the life of one of the world›s prominent leaders in the fifties of the last century.

From The POLITICAL

DICTIONARY

DIPLOMACY: The word Diplomacy is derived from the Latin word «Diploma» which means an official document and this in turn is derived from the Greek word that means a folded paper/document.This word reflects the systems and means of communication between member states in the international community, and it is also considered to be a means of conducting negotiations between nations. Today, diplomacy in its comprehensive sense means: «The whole process through which States establish their foreign relations, it is the means for allies to cooperate and the means for adversaries to resolve their disputes without resorting to force, thus, states communicate, bargain, influence one another and resolve their differences through diplomacy.

Diplomacy has three main functions, which are: gathering of information, presenting a positive image, and implementing foreign policy.

Soft Diplomacy: It is a terminology used by analysts and politicians and at a wider range in the international affairs, and it means the use of the flexible language and statements that focus on respecting human rights and maintaining freedoms without using tough or strict language or tone or hints of threat or force. As examples for the soft diplomacy; the call for the respect of the citizens› right to demonstrate peacefully in defense of their rights or for maintaining their political, social and economic rights; as well as respecting the freedom of assembly and expression and responding to the legitimate demands for reforms. Trade, aid, development assistance and investment are considered to be some of the powerful tools for the soft diplomacy.

Preventive Diplomacy: The preventive diplomacy is primarily based on the identification of emerging conflicts and responding to them in order to avoid the occurrence of acts of violence, thus, preventive diplomacy provides the opportunity to avoid a lot of pain and damage due to a violent conflict. Preventive diplomacy may take several forms such as oral diplomatic protests, condemnation, imposition of sanctions, supervision over effective implementation of agreements and verification of the same, peacekeeping, good offices instances and other forms of mediation that are conducted by a third party.

Diplomatic Immunity: Diplomats enjoy multi-important privileges and immunities while serving outside their home countries. These privileges are due to fact that they are the direct representatives of sovereign powers, and these diplomats can enjoy complete freedom of action when discharging their duties. These privileges are based on the principle of being exempted from the jurisdiction of national legislations. This principle, which is used in the international law, ensures that people who are living in foreign countries are still under the jurisdiction of their original governments.

There are four advantages of the diplomatic immunities: • May not be arrested or detained for any reason. Members of their families also enjoy such privilege.

• May not have their residences, papers and luggage searched or seized.

• May not impose taxes on their personal property by the host country where they work.

• Diplomats, their families and their employees enjoy complete freedom of worship.

Spotlight on the

United Nations

20 The Diplomacy

Spotlight

The idea of establishing the United Nations organization appeared during the Second World War (1939-1945), in order to make international peace and security prevail. In 1956, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt proposed the name «United Nations», the first use of this term was in the «Declaration of the establishment of United Nations» on the 1st of January 1942.

The United Nations officially came into existence on the 26th of October 1945, after the ratification of its constitution by

the five members of the Security Council : China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Its headquarters is in the United States of America, New York, as well as branch offices of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, The Hague in the Netherlands, Vienna in Austria, and Nairobi in Kenya, with the spread of UN’s agencies and bodies in different locations of the world. The State of Qatar joined the United Nations on the 21st of December 1971 after its independence.

The United Nations does not

The United Nations does not prevent all wars which erupt between the States, this is not one of its goals, but instead to prevent wars between nations that lead to world wars prevent all wars which erupt between the States, this is not one of its goals, but instead to prevent wars between nations that lead to world wars; this is because the UN was established only as a result of World War II, and therefore its objectives are: keeping international peace and security, development of good relations between nations, cooperate for solving problems and promoting respect for human rights, making the organization a center to coordinate the nations actions, and finally sets out basic principles for international relations.

But that does not mean that the United Nations shall stand watching or be neutral vis-a-vis wars which erupt between the States and not lead to world wars, but shall rather observe and follow up the evolution of these wars and try to resolve the conflicts which gave rise to these wars.

First- General Assembly: It is

Ceremony of raising the flag of Qatar at UN headquarters in New York on 22 September, 1971.

the main representative body for deliberation and policy-making in the United Nations, composed of all UN members, 193 countries (members). It’s a unique and multilateral forum, in which debate on all international issues covered by the Charter takes place. The General Assembly meets annually in an intensive The Diplomacy 21

Spotlight

regular session, extending from September to December, and thereafter meets as appropriate.

The Ambassador Nasser bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Nasser, from the State of Qatar, assumed the presidency of the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly during its sixty-fourth session, and the Presidency of the High Level Committee on Cooperation among SouthSouth, and the adoption of its outcome document was internationally agreed.

Second- The Security Council : mainly responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It is organized so as to work without interruption.

The members of the Security

Secretaries-General of the United Nations

Name

Country of origin

Period

Trygve Lie

Norway

1946-1952

Dag Hammarskjöld

Sweden

1952-1961

U Thant

Burma

1962-1971

Kurt Waldheim

Austria

1972-1981

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar

Peru

1982-1991

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Egypt

1992-1996

Kofi Annan

Ghana

1997-2006

Ban Ki-moon

South Korea

2007- present

22 The Diplomacy

Council are: The United States, United Kingdom, Russia, France and China.

Third- The Economic and

Social Council: Its main tasks are to coordinate economic and social works and related works of the United Nations and its specialized agencies and institutions.

Fourth- Trusteeship Council: Its mission is to supervise the administration of regions which fall under the protectorate supervision, and to encourage the advancement of the populations of regions under p r o t e c t o r a t e s u p e r v i sion, and their progress gradually towards self-government or independence.

That was achieved to a degree: all the regions under protectorate have gained selfgovernment or independence, either as independent countries or through joining neighboring independent countries.

Fifth- International Criminal

Court: Based in The Hague, it’s the primary judicial organ of the United Nations.

Its main functions are to settle disputes between members and to provide advisory opinions to the United Nations and its specialized agencies, it system is a part and parcel of the UN Charter.

Sixth- General Secretariat: The duties carried out by the Secretariat are as varied as the problems dealt with by the United Nations. These six bodies, mentioned above, have sub-committees and offices to achieve the objectives of the United Nations.

The Global Competitiveness Report

2011-2012

Many international and regional organizations publish annual reports on competitiveness that include indexes and sub-indexes on the basis of which the various countries are ranked according to these indices. The said organizations include, the World Economic Forum, International Institute for Management Development and Arab Institute for Planning.

The Global Competitiveness Report, which is annually released by the World Economic Forum in Davos, since 1979, is considered one of the most important reports on competitiveness. The first report, released in 1979, included the measurement of competitiveness for 16 European countries, while the economies of 142 countries from various regions of the world have been covered by this 2011-2012 Report.

The Diplomacy 23

Reports The competitiveness index developed during the past 32 years until it has become the most important comprehensive assessment of the countries competitiveness, due to the fact that it presents solutions for policies of the macro-economy, institutions and production incentives, which are factors conducive to the sustainability of economic growth and long-term recovery. In its measurement and analysis of competitiveness, the Global Competitiveness Report depends on two kinds of data:

- Quantitative Data:

These include data relating to economic performance and technological competitiveness, and are obtained from national and international publications and statistical reports.

- Qualitative Data:

These include data acquired through field survey based on views and remarks of businessmen and decision-makers in participating countries who are selected on the basis of certain criteria determined by the World Economic Forum.

The competitiveness ratings - according to the Global Competitiveness Report - are based on the competitiveness index which comprises 12 pillars: First pillar: Institutions The institutional environment represents the framework within which individuals, firms and governments interact to generate income and wealth to the economy. The institutional framework has a bearing on institutional competitiveness and growth. It plays a key role in the ways in which societies distribute the benefits and bear the cost of development strategies and policies. It also influences 24 The Diplomacy

budget is running deficit.

Fourth pillar: Health and primary education A healthy workforce is vital to a country›s competitiveness and productivity. Workers who are ill cannot function to their potential and will be less productive. Poor health leads to significant costs to business. In addition to health, this pillar takes into account the quantity and quality of the basic education received by the population, which is increasingly important in today›s economy.

Basic education increases the efficiency of each individual worker and renders the economy more productive.

Fifth pillar: Higher education and training Quality higher education and training is crucial for economies that want to move up the value chain beyond simple production processes and producers. In particular, today›s globalizing economy requires countries to nurture pools of well-educated workers who are able to rapidly to the changing A healthy workforce is vital to adapt economic environment and a country›s competitiveness the evolving needs of the production system. and productivity. Workers Sixth pillar: Goods market who are ill cannot function efficiency with efficient goods to their potential and will be Countries markets are well-positioned less productive. Poor health to produce the right mix of leads to significant costs to products and services given their particular supply-andbusiness demand conditions, as well as to ensure that these goods can be most effectively traded macroeconomic disarray harms in the economy. the economy. Firms cannot take Seventh pillar: Labor market any significant decisions when efficiency inflation rates are out of hand. This pillar underlines that the Likewise, the financial sector efficiency and flexibility of the labor cannot operate if the general market are crucial for ensuring investment decisions and the organization of production.

Second pillar: Infrastructure Extensive and efficient infrastructure is critical for ensuring the effective functioning of economy, as it is an important factor determining the location of economic activity and the kind of activities or sectors that can develop in a particular instance.

Well-developed infrastructure reduces the effect of distance between regions, integrating the national market and connecting to markets in other countries and regions.

Third pillar: Stability of Macroeconomic environment The stability of macroeconomic environment is important for business and, therefore, is important for the overall competitiveness of the country.

Although it is certainly true that macroeconomic stability alone cannot increase the productivity of a nation, it is also recognized that

Reports that workers are allocated to their most efficient use in the economy.

Labor markets must therefore have the flexibility to shift workers from one economic activity to another rapidly, and to allow for wage fluctuations without much social disruption. Efficient labor markets must also ensure a clear relationship between worker incentives and their efforts.

Eighth pillar: Developed financial market An efficient financial sector is crucial to the allocations of various resources to areas of their use. It channels resources, for example, to the optimal entrepreneurial or investment projects. Efficient financial sector is also capable of securing loans, mitigating risks and being highly transparent in such a manner as to promote investment productivity.

Ninth pillar: Technological readiness This pillar measures the agility with which an economy adopts existing technologies to enhance the productivity of its industries.

It is therefore a crucial concept since technologies differ and hence productivities differ from one country to another. ICT has evolved into the general purpose technology of our time, given the critical spillovers to the other economic sectors and their role as industry-wide enabling infrastructure. Therefore ICT access and usage are key enablers of country›s overall technological readiness.

Tenth pillar: Market size The size of the market affects productivity since large markets allow firms to exploit economies of scale. In the era of globalization, international markets have become a substitute for domestic

markets, especially for small countries.

Eleventh pillar: Business sophistication Sophisticated business practices are conducive to higher efficiency in the production of goods and services. This will, in turn enhance productivity and improve a country’s competitiveness.

Business sophistication concerns two elements that are intricately linked: the quality of a country’s overall business networks and the quality of individual firms operations and strategies.

Twelfth pillar: Innovation The final pillar of competitiveness is technological innovation.

Innovation is particularly important for economies as they approach the frontiers of knowledge and the possibility of integrating and adapting exogenous technologies trends to disappear.

The competitiveness index depends on the twelve pillars mentioned above according to which countries can be divided into three stages of development: First stage: Factor-driven In this first stage the economy is factor-driven and countries compete based on their factor endowments – primarily unskilled labor and natural resources.

Companies compete on the basis of price and sell basic products or commodities. This stage is also marked by low productivity.

Maintaining competitiveness at this stage of development hinges on the first four pillars (Institutions, Infrastructure, Macroeconomic stability, Health and Primary education).

Second stage: Efficiency-driven Countries will then move into the efficiency-driven stage of development when they become

more competitive, productivity increases and wages rise with advancing development.

Competitiveness rises in this stage by reliance on pillars from fifth to tenth (higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labor market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness and market size).

Third stage: Innovation-driven Countries move into this stage when they are able to sustain higher standards of living if their businesses are able to compete with new and unique products. At this stage, companies compete as

The Global Competitiveness Index for the year (2011-2012) comprised 142 countries from different regions and areas is described under pillar (12).

The Global Competitiveness Index for the year (2011-2012) comprised 142 countries from different regions and areas. The Global Competitiveness Index consists in two main indexes: Growth Competitiveness Index comprises the following subindexes: the basic requirements sub-index, efficiency enhancers sub-index and innovation and sophistication factors sub-index.

The weights attributed to these sub-indexes are from (1-7), whenever a country comes closer to figure (7) this will indicate that its competitiveness is risen, and if it comes closer to figure (1) it will mean that its competitiveness is reduced.

The business Competitiveness index: The Diplomacy 25

Reports comprises and index of the extent of complications in companies› operations and strategies and index of level of business environment.

The following is a table showing the top ten countries according to the Global Competitiveness Index for (2011-2012).

Table (1): The Top 10 in the Global Competitiveness Index 2011-2012 rankings:

Country

Rank Score

processes.

Singapore moves up by one place to 2nd position. The country enjoys high levels of transparency and its government institutions are assessed as the best for their lack of corruption. In addition, the country’s competitiveness is reinforced by a high spending on scientific research and development. As for the fourteen Arab countries included in the Global Competitiveness Report, their rankings are as follows: Table (2): The Arab Countries in the Global Competitiveness Index 2011-2012 rankings:

Going forward and maintaining this upswing trend in the Global Competitiveness Index for the coming years will require the achievement of tangible progress in areas of higher education and training, as well as the development of the market size

Competitiveness Report 20112012.

The State of Qatar moved Country Rank Score up three places in the Global Competitiveness rankings as it Qatar 14 5,34 moved from the 17th position Saudi Arabia 17 5,17 in 2010-2011 to the 14th United Arab Emirates 27 4,89 position in 2011-2012. This was Sultanate of Oman 32 4,64 Kuwait 34 4,62 sustained by improvements in its macroeconomic environment Bahrain 37 4,54 for which it ranked 5th at the Tunisia 40 4,47 global level, together with its Source: World Economic Forum, Global Jordan 71 4,19 Competitiveness Report 2011-2012, high efficiency of government Morocco 73 4,16 Geneva,2011 institutions and development of Algeria 87 3,96 Lebanon 89 3,95 business community, where it The table above shows that Egypt 94 3,88 ranked the 12th globally.

Switzerland retains its first place Syria 98 3,85 Going forward and maintaining 138 3,20 position. Its notable strengths are Yemen this up-swing trend in the Global related to innovation. The country Competitiveness Index for the ranks second after the United Source: World Economic Forum, Global coming years will require the States at the global level in this Competitiveness Report 2011-2012, achievement of tangible progress domain. Its characterized by the Geneva,2011 in areas of higher education existence of robust institutions and training, as well as the The table above shows that development of the market size and prosperous business environment.

Its scientific the GCC member states maintain where Qatar occupies the 59th research institutions and centers top positions in comparison with position. However, upgrading the are among the world›s best, and other Arab countries. Syria’s and efficiency of business market and the strong collaboration between Yemen’s economies achieved technological readiness will also its academic and business the worst performance among help the country to move up in the sectors, combined with high the Arab countries. The State of rankings. company spending on research Qatar maintained the top position and development, ensures that among Arab countries. It maintains Dr. Nowzad Al-Hiti much of this research is translated the 14th position among the 142 Advisor - International Cooperation Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar into marketable products and countries covered by the Global Switzerland Singapore Sweden Finland United States Germany Netherlands Denmark Japan United Kingdom

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

26 The Diplomacy

5,74 5,63 5,61 5,47 5,43 5,41 5,41 5,40 5,40 5,39

Underhand Diplomacy

In Explorers Disguise

The Diplomacy 27

Articles The Western colonial administrations tried to lure many orientalists, travellers and explorers to serve their imperial objectives through working as secret ambassadors and spies.

Exploring the Orient was almost impossible without the help of those who are most acquainted with the region�s religious, demographic and geographical affairs. Those administrations were confident that getting help from such elements would represent an ethical contribution from the men who knew well about the Orient. So they decided to support them in return to their services in the fields of information collection, preparations of maps, and report writing during their travels across those remote areas.

As a result, a huge database was formed as the core of the colonial archives, which explains part of the connection between travel and exploration in the Orient on one side and the colonial movement in modern times on the other. Thus, the Western knowledge about the Orient was based on misunderstandings, conflicted interests and cultural prejudice as many explorers gave precedence to their countiesďż˝ colonial interests to what was supposed to be innocent practice, and found themselves guided by their underlying political inclinations and spying intentions.

They were rarely free from the load of the cultural, political and imperial dogma of their countries; and very few of them can be exonerated from the accusation of cooperating with the colonial admirations of their countries.

The interest of the Westerners in the Orient can be explained by their longtime ignorance of 28 The Diplomacy

the Orient until recently; and by their tendency to make up for the shortfall in knowledge about the region by all means, even if they had to falsify the facts or reproduce them. Within the context of formulating the identity of the West in modern times it was necessary to spread the Western knowledge as far as possible around the world. By that time the Orient was remote and secluded, so it became a good target for research, imagination, exploration and domination.

The travelers and explorers lost no time to join the military expeditions of their countries, and started collecting bits of information from a substantial body of knowledge most of which was taken out of their historical and cultural context, misrepresented and misinterpreted.

Researchers mostly drew their information from travelers and orientalistsďż˝ writings which were considered the sources of the right knowledge about the deserts dwellers; and sidelined the authentic well-known and widespread knowledge. The Western version was considered to be the right one. Based on this, many travelers such as Burton, Lawrence, Miss Bell and others started to serve the objectives of the colonial administrations; and it was not uncommon that their geographical discoveries and copious descriptions of the ethnic, religious and sectarian ties in the desert Arab societies provided the guidelines for the colonial powers to dominate this region.

Some of them took very sensitive positions in the bureaucracy of their countries and participated in forming the new kingdoms in

Arabia after the end of the Frst World War. Their influence was great in maintaining the imperial interests of the colonial powers alive. Their view of the Orient identifies with the colonial vision of a world which they were planning to conquer and integrate in the context of the history of the West.

The visits of the Western travelers, though, were not completely bereft of some genuine knowledge seeking to satisfy the needs of the Western empires. The traveler Fartima acknowledged that his trip to the Arabian Peninsula was driven by "a real desire for knowledge".

We have to wonder about this knowledge that the Western explorers need know about the regions they meant to travel to; and in what circumstances those trips were made. Fartima was known to be working for the king of Portugal who financed the trip, and whose governor in India awarded him the order of excellence and chivalry, and included him in his fighting legions. In light of this, he was commissioned to write about the traditions and habits of the peoples in this region and send reports on their armies and agricultural and industrial products. The Spanish, Domingo Badia, who was engulfed in mystery wherever he went and called himself Ali Biy Al-Abbasi started to write secret reports to the Spanish, then the French, tempting them to impose their imperial domination in the west and the east alike. Sitizen followed his example. He was charged with sending reports to the Russian Czar about the military situation in Central Asia which had impeded the Russian expansion. For the same reason,

Articles

Borkhart travelled to the Arabian Peninsula on behalf of the African Geographic Society which was financed by the British Colonies Administration in order to understand the region in preparation for colonizing it.

The English Burton did not hide his wishes for expanding the British domination to Arabia; and gave many suggestions on how to win the trust of Bedouins and stimulate them to serve the British empire as they can form, according to him, an excellent squad of infantry. Burton was described as an extreme imperialist who sought to serve his empire, boost its image and standing and expand its colonies throughout the world.

Regarding Lawrence of Arabia, Miss Bell and Phillippi, their roles in furthering the imperial domination in the Arab orient and the Arabian Peninsula are now common knowledge.

It was not easy for the Western travelers to wander around the Arabian Peninsula without taking many precautions. They had to disguise themselves in Arab clothing and assume the names of religious or semiThe Diplomacy 29

Articles religious personalities claiming to be Muslims. They had to learn Arabic, train on some Arab dialects and win the trust and friendship of tribal leaders, or even some princes and kings.

Fartima assumed the name of Yousif Al Masfi; Gormani – Khalil Ngha; Begrave – Salim Aliees; Badia – Ali Biy Al Abbasi; Dawti – Khalil ; Jward – Mohammed Mubarak; Denie – Naser Al Din; Sitzen – Al Haj Mousa; Finati – Al Haj Mohammed; Burton – Al Haj Abdullah; Benkil – Al Haj Abdulwahid; Walin – Walliddin; Cortilmon – Al Haj Abdullah; Frirkeen – Al Haj Mohammed Amen; Rashei – Al Haj Omar; Horjronei – Abdulghaffar; Maltizan – Albdulrahman bin Mohammed; and Elwis Mozel – Sayid Mousa Al Rolli. Others embraced Islam and changed their names such as Fayis who changed his name to Mohammed Assad and Phillippi who became Al Haj Abdullah Phillippi. These are only few examples of the

Taking presudo- names is a common practice among the Western travelers in the Arab world. Many of them hid their real names and religions; and pretended to be merchants, workers or pilgrims, as strangers always arouse suspicion Western travelers who had to disguise themselves in order to be able to wonder freely inside the Arabian Peninsula.

Taking presudo- names is a common practice among the Western travelers in the Arab world. Many of them hid their 30 The Diplomacy

real names and religions; and pretended to be merchants, workers or pilgrims, as strangers always arouse suspicion.

They cannot disclose their real intentions and religious affiliations, so they hide behind assumed characters that most identify with the desert environment. Borkhart disclosed that to disguise is something very common among all orientalist travelers. However, this trick was not always successful in deceiving the others.

Western travelers were always caught unaware practicing their habits and ways of life, and their real intentions were soon exposed. Spending time and effort in disguising wasted the chances of discharging many missions such as drawing the maps; designating the locations; describing the roads and weather conditions; and studying the tribal settings, political affiliations, religious rites, and social relations of the tribes, that the colonial powers can benefit from to impose their influence and protect their best interests. Almost all the knowledge that is widespread in the West originated from travelers who had explicit or implicit connections with those powers, and who had played many secret roles many of which are yet to be revealed.

It is well known that the travelers came from courtiers that are very different from the desert countries; and with cultural, religious and ethical backgrounds that are totally distinct from those prevailing in the places they visited. Some of them, such as the English traveler Dawti, stuck

to their true identities and started to express disagreement with the way of life the desert dwellers were leading, while others freed themselves as much as they could from their underlying cultural backgrounds and tried, through intense association and engagement with the local communities, to identify with the desert dwellers and eliminate the barriers that existed between them and these communities.

They neglected, on purpose, their cultural backgrounds and were totally changed. This can be seen in the case of the English Tesigar and the Austrian Fice who were able to cross the cultural and religious barriers separating them from the people of the desert, and had a better chance to know the secrets of the desert. For this category, the desert became a familiar place and a source of fascination and inspiration for artistic and literary praise. It is natural for the desert to defy exploration and fold its secrets in front of strangers except for those who free themselves from alien backgrounds and identify with it; a condition which was not met by many explorers.

The desire to integrate into the world of the desert, discover its secrets and explore it required more psychological and physical practice than was available for the Western travelers who came to our desert, many of whom were sent in political or scientific missions. Those who carried out their missions out of true love and passion for the desert succeeded in producing valuable knowledge and their excursions were admirably interesting and full of adventures.

Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim

Cultural Advisor - Diwan Amiri, Qatar

Articles

The Iranian Threats of Blocking the

Strait of Hormuz

Throughout the previous three decades the Iranian officials threatened three times to block the Strait of Hormuz. The first time was during the Iranian-Iraqi war (1980 – 1988), and that was a useless warning. The second time coincided with the approach of the American presidential elections in 2008, and was also in vain.

The third time preceded the dates of the American presidential elections by more than a year. This time the threat gained a higher rhetoric as the difference between Iran and the West continued to intensify over the controversial Iranian nuclear program, and particularly after the International Nuclear Energy Agency (INEA) issued a report in November 2011 accusing Iran of working to manipulate its nuclear program to build a nuclear bomb, or at least seeking to reach this goal.

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• The Strait of Hormuz The Strait of Hormuz lies between the territories of two states: the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The strait, which is 96 nautical miles long and 20 nautical miles wide (1 nautical mile = 1852 meters) within the territorial waters of both Oman and Iran, is open for international marine traffic without prior permission from either country as it connects the waters of two high seas i.e. the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf.

The economic importance of the Strait of Hormuz derives from the fact that it is the only sea channel for the trade of five Arab countries i.e. Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia, in addition to Iran. As such, it represents the only passage for the trade of seven countries including about 17 million barrels per day of oil exports to consumer countries around the world, besides scores of vessels crossing the strait with various

commodities transported to and from the countries overlooking the Arabian Gulf.

facing difficult economic conditions due to the international sovereign debt crisis.

• The developments of the crisis

Some factors contributed to the intensification of the conflict between Iran and the Western nations, including the electronic penetrations of computers systems of the Iranian nuclear installations; the announcement of Iran late in December 2011 that it shot down an American pilotless spy plane over its eastern airspace; the explosions that took place in some Iranian oil and nuclear sites; and the assassinations of some Iranian nuclear scientists. Iran continued the development of its nuclear program despite all these incidents.

The UN Security Council›s resolution No 1929 adopted in 9.6.2010 imposed a package of international sanctions , including strict restrictions on Iran›s procurement of any nuclear-related technological components, and materials used in the development of missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads; a total ban on supplying combat tanks, vehicles, heavy artillery systems, fighter jets or warships to Iran; and on Iran›s foreign investments and financial transactions with Iranian banks.

Those sanctions were followed on 2.1.2012 by a declaration of unilateral American sanctions of more strict nature. These sanctions are targeting various Iranian economic sectors and demanding the American and international companies to chose either to deal with the Iranian financial and banking sector or the American financial and banking sector.

The foreign ministers of the European Union decided in their meeting which was held in Brussels on 22.1.2012 to ban the purchase of the Iranian crude oil and extend the date on which to stop the importation of the Iranian oil by the European Union countries to the first of July 2012. Presently the European Union imports about 450 thousand barrels per day of oil distributed among Italy (180 b/d), Spain (160 b/d) and Greece (100 b/d) of crude oil, especially that these countries are

32 The Diplomacy

• The Iranian threats of blocking the Strait of Hormuz The Iranian leaders acknowledged the seriousness of the American and European economic sanctions, and the moves of some East Asian importers of the Iranian oil notably

if the west imposed sanctions on the Iranian oil exports, no drop of oil is going to pass through the Strait of Hormuz India, China and Japan towards other oil exporting countries to secure alternative sources of crude oil. These steps were for Iran tantamount to a declaration of war against her, especially that oil exports account for 60% of Iran›s budget. At this point Iran opted to develop a confrontation plan with multiple options, foremost, brandishing several threats to block the Strait of Hormuz in front of the international navigation and

Articles launching military maneuvers near the strait to confirm its threats.

Mohammed Dali Rahimi, the first deputy of the Iranian president, told the Islamic Republic News Agency that «if the west imposed sanctions on the Iranian oil exports, no drop of oil is going to pass through the Strait of Hormuz». Habeebullah Sayari, the commander of the Iranian navy, announced that the Iranian forces have a full control over the Strait of Hormuz, and can block it if they received an order to do so. Ali Larijani the speaker of the parliament declared on 4.1.2012 that there is «a plan in place in Iran to respond to a ban on Iranian oil exports».

• Positions of Western states The western actions (American and European) are summarized in three overlapping spheres: the political sphere, military sphere and economic sphere, and they can be categorized as follows: - Politically, the use of international institutions, particularly the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and UN Security Council, as well as the coordination of positions between the United States and the European Union with the rest of the world to tighten the procedures for penalties against Iran in all fields and harnessing the Western media to address the risks of the Iranian nuclear program at the regional and global levels.

- Militarily, to strengthen the American military presence in the Arabian Gulf, with confirmation of the U.S. President Barack Obama more than once, especially in his State of Union address on 25/1/2012, the intention of his country is not to allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons, and confirmation of U.S.

Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta on «Face the Nation» on CBS television network that «the Strait of Hormuz is a red line for the United States and we will move to reopen it if it is closed. British advanced Mine sweeper «Darling» has been sent to the Arabian Gulf waters to thwart any attempt by Iran to impose a blockade on the strait.

- Economically, on 01/05/2012, the media picked up the meeting of the Directors of the International Energy Agency, which provides advice to 28 oil consumer countries and examined the plan for the launch of 14 million barrels of oil per day for one month «in case the of closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran» from oil stocks to the governments of USA, Europe and Japan, especially since the total stock of industrial nations crude oil amounts to about 2680 million barrels of crude oil, and these stocks are enough continues for more than 100 days on the assumption that the continued closure of the Strait for three months.

• Possible scenarios: In light of the foregoing, it can be noted that the implications of the current tension between Iran and the West is controlled by three scenarios, which are as follows: - Scenario of continued stress, and the assumed continuation of Iranian threats in order to raise oil prices to deal with the repercussions of the sanctions imposed on it, and gain time to complete nuclear program and impose the version of the de facto to the West to accommodate Iran into the international nuclear club, this scenario is nominated for continuation in the foreseeable future with the insistence of the West to follow economic sanctions and diplomacy means with Iran.

- Scenario of escalation with the use of military option, and the developments of the crisis between Iran and the West is very close to the point of separation; of preparedness by the parties to use the military option. What reduces the risk of this scenario (temporarily) is that there is an implicit link of undeclared Iranian-American relations which are based on the role of alliance and divergence, in order to achieve the interests of the conflicting parties, including, for example: differences apparent between the United States and Iran regarding the position of «Israel», while there is implicit alliance between them on Iraq and Afghanistan, however, the presumption of Iran›s insistence on the continuation of the nuclear option would lead to military confrontation. The West countries, militarily superior, will shorten its duration, as little as possible, in anticipation of its repercussions on the economy, regional and global security.

- Scenario of retreat, this option is governed by the logic of recalculations influenced by the two parties to the conflict on common interests and the subsequent fallout, with the need of Iran to deal seriously with the Saudi Arabia announcement, it is ready to compensate for the potential shortfall in Iranian›s oil supply to world markets. The cost of this scenario will be the Iran›s commitment to seriously go to the peaceful nuclear program and also depends on their ability to convince the West of this approach.

Dr. Khudhair Abbas Al Nadawi Al Nahrain University, Iraq

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Qatar

and The Policy of Rational Interaction

34 The Diplomacy

Articles Deviating from the ordinary patterns is what the observer of the Qatari Model would notice.

Individuals would notice two distinct features of Qatar. The first is exemplified in its foreign policy, where effectiveness reaches its altitude. Al Jazeera,with its capability of possessing a prominent presence in the Age of Information and Digital Technology represents the second element.

Contrasting the traditional common features such as hard power, geostrategic location, economic and political capabilities, which identify a leading, initiating state in the field of decision making in a unipolar, US-led World, as stated in classical international relations literature, such two features are uncommon ones in terms of being the resources on which Qatar’s power stands.

Most of the analysts, scholars, and specialists would adhere to the following statement: “Qatar’s foreign policy is a US-led one”.

Trying to euphemisize such a statement, they would describe such foreign policy as being in melange with the US view.

Moreover,Al Jazeera, would be depicted as a “BBC-lab-mediacreation”.

Such consistency and doubtedness, which represent the grounds for such terms, is founded on the cliché regarding the analysts’ views of the Capital system dominated by the bilateral power and interest of Imperialism. Such bilaterism would consequently affect its internal interactions resulting in progress, development, recession and frequent crisises. Such consequences are negative.

They would imply extreme responsiveness to the problems of war, political crises, endangered

ecology, debts, and globalization with its consequences such as: Free Trade Agreements, democratization, transnational companies, and international legitimacy. All flow in the same hole- The Unipolar interests domination. Such domination is based on “Americanization”.

That is, imposing the US cultural, political, social, economic, and media model. Such domination is widening the gap between two

From the point of a historical approach which requires the awareness of the international scene , the current US-led unipolar system, which attempts to impose a readymade model, is a phase of relational systems. Examples of such systems are; the multilateral systems resulted after the Peace of Westphalia treaty signed in 1648.

polar sides; a rich, prosperous northern polar side, and poor, needy, unemployed, terrorist, and extremist southern polar side. Hence, such domination is dangerous, as it would lead actors in such system to be completely dragged, with their unipolar dominating power to the same end- problems, weaknesses, crises, and imbalances.

Such analysis of a reality based on uni-polar system is compatible enough for analyzing the current scene of international relations in terms of logic and consistency.

However, a comprehensive analysis is one that would hail calmness in a sultry atmosphere.

An analysis that would render

prelimentary observations from the perspective of scientific experimental approach. Such approach is founded on the basis of observation of facts and international events,interpreting them, creating a paradigm, drawing expectations and possible scenarios, formulating a law, and repeated testing to identify its strength and weakness points, and finally, sharpening it. Such a law is based on the principles of the main input for international relations.

National interest represents the first principle. The second one is represented by power including: free will, interest orientation, presence, capability of investing available resources, and good governance enabled to make the right decision at the right time.

From the point of a historical approach which requires the awareness of the international scene , the current US-led unipolar system, which attempts to impose a readymade model, is a phase of relational systems. Examples of such systems are, the multilateral systems which resulted after the Peace of Westphalia treaty signed in 1648.Another example is represented in the bilateral system witnessed after the end of the Cold War, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Such US-led unipolar system has resulted in Western Interdependence System.

The Western interdependence system features are: capability, intiativeness, decision-making.

This is exemplified in its influence exerted on the United Nations (UN) through funding its activities, increasing its economic and investment activities, and activating its open-market systems. However, such a reality cannot deny the possibility of The Diplomacy 35

Articles implementing the goals of the legal approach in international relations. Such goals are; peaceful conflict resolution, the refusal of using power, and equality in sovereignty.

The essence and the sembalance:

Reality indicates the importance of Qatar’s role on the map of international relations. Such role is demonstrated at the local regional level in the region. Such role is not revealed by Qatar’s sembalance. It is attacked by questions doubting the currently growing diplomatic role of Qatar, despite its geographic and demographic smallness.

At the same time, the scene is witnessing the growing approval of the Turkish Model versus the Islamic-Arabic Qatari Model. The essence of Qatari Diplomacy is founded on the two elements: peace and sovereignty. Unlike the sembalance, which is bombarded by questions related to the conspiracy theory, the essence reveals the spirit of conscious political intiative. Such spirit is based on realistic vision and views. Together they founded a solid ground of this spirit based on reconciliation; unity, and moderaty, rationalty, dialogue, democratization, international legitimacy, tolerance, and accepting the other.

The effects of such spirits resulted in meetings, agreements, reconciliation, and stabilization.

Decisively, such fruitful results put a comprehensive answer to the questions doubting the credibility, trust, of Qatar’s current prestigious international position in the field of international relations.

This answer is presented in the following, Qatar 36 The Diplomacy

has gained two results: power and influence. Diplomatic and International Power that carved an identity and impact for Qatar worldwide. Depending on the incremented trust and credibility, Qatar would utilise its influence to serve its national gains, Arabs and Islam. On the the other hand, people deceived by the sembalance suffer from being imprisoned within the frames of useless, unfruitful slogans, generalizations and negative criticism. Thus, their visions were unrealistic. Consequently, their questions were pointless. Their questions doubted the benefit Qatar can gain from such active diplomatic effectiveness that surpassed those of countries larger than Qatar in terms of size and resources.

The Qatari Paradigm has shifted from the traditional diplomatic paradigm.

It reveals a thorough representation of a positive conscious paradigm. One can notice the Qatari efforts in achieving the national reconciliation among the Lebanese and Palestinian factions. Another example is represented in the Qatari serious, honest, concentrated, and continious efforts to solve the ArabIsraeli conflict

Diplomatic Revolution Structure:

In his famous book "The Structure of Scientific Revolution”, Thomas Khun, a theoretical physics scientist,

introduced the term “Paradigm”.

Such term was deeply influential in both academic and popular circles. It contrasted the predominating classical notion that scientific knowledge is not progressing in a linear and continuous way. On the same lines, the Qatari paradigm has shifted from the traditional diplomatic paradigm. It reveals a thorough representation of a positive conscious paradigm.

One can notice the Qatari efforts in achieving the national reconciliation among the Lebanese and Palestinian factions.

Another example is represented in the Qatari serious, honest, concentrated, and continious efforts to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict. In addition, Qatar has participated effectively in the resolution of the Darfur Conflict and the Afghan Issue. Moreover, Qatar has opened an honest open dialogue channel with Iran regarding its nuclear program. Such efforts are resulted from a consistent Qatari view founded on the Arab and Islamic principles. Its diagnosis mechanism is based on interactive-rationality analysis balancing between the inside and the outside. It attempts to answer the following questions regarding who Qatar is, what it possesses, and what it wants.

Its activity is represented by the poised, practical, modest, and realistic, unbiased political activity. It is based on three elements; reality, practise, and political player.

Dr. Ismail Nori Al-Rabai

Al Ahlia University, Bahrain

Issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2010

Development Assistance and Aid Provided by the State of Qatar Within the framework of the follow-up and monitoring of the Development Assistance and Aid provided by the State of Qatar, which was enhancing global partnerships in the field of international development, the department of International Technical Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a study about the Development Assistance and Aid provided by the State of Qatar in the period (2005-2009), in which the total value between 2005 and 2009 is estimated to be 2 billion dollars provided to 107 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and the two Americas, in addition to other regions in the world. The study was divided into five chapters.

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‫ا�صدارات‬

First: Characteristics and Forms of Official Qatari Development Assistance 1.Assistance is easier and unconditioned, from developed country to another one, and not tied to conditions of delivery and implementation on the part of the beneficiary country, and Qatar does not interfere in its economic policies.

2. Qatar’s assistance is provided through multiple channels, most important and directly from the government and in directly from non-governmental organizations and institutions and through international, regional and Arab development institutions.

3.The number of countries benefiting from Qatar›s assistance has been rising, reaching 107 countries in 2009.

The geographical expansion of the Qatari development assistance indicates the leading and pioneering role played by the State of Qatar as a major partner in achieving international development.

Second: Forms of Qatari Governmental Development Assistance 1. Government Assistance: Cash or in kind assistance provided directly to governments as support or in response to

Qatari Development Assistance (2005-2009) (million dollars) 700 700

624

600 600 437

500 500

382

400 400 300 300 200 200

144

100 100 0

0 2005

2006

2007

emergencies caused by natural disasters, famine or armed conflicts.

2. Project Assistance: Cash amounts in support of education, health, urbanization, housing, communications, municipalities and other development projects.

3.Assistance to Institutions, Establishments and Individuals: Cash amounts and in kind assistance to institutions, charities, and research centers; contributions in the construction of mosques and small scale educational facilities; and cash amounts paid to individuals such as teachers of Arabic and Islamic studies.

4. Special Assistance: A special kind of assistance provided Total Qatari Development Assistance to international (2005-2009) in US$ peace-keeping forces deployed in different Years Government Non Government Total parts of the world.

143.641.293 2005 121.362.328 22.278.965 The second chapter 624.374.643 2006 563.036.712 61.337.931 of the study deals 436.574.354 2007 363.458.878 73.115.476 with the amount of 433.052.235 2008 318.194.919 114.857.316 Qatari Development 222.814.313 381.681.492 2009 158.867.79 Assistance which 2.019.324.017 Total 1.524.920.016 494.404.000 increased considerably between 2005 and

38 The Diplomacy

433

2008

2009

2009 rising from 143.6 million dollars in 2005 to about 381.6 million dollars in 2009, representing an annual increase rate of 21.6% for that period .

The third chapter deals with the Donors of Qatari Development Assistance where the State of Qatar provides assistance and development aid to various countries through the following channels: 1. Government Assistance: The value of government assistance provided by the State of Qatar to various countries steadily increased in the past five years from about $121.3 million in 2005 to $158.8 million in 2009, i.e. an annual increase rate of 5.5%. The cumulative aggregate of government development assistance provided by the State of Qatar to various countries in the period 2005-2009 was about $1.524 billion.

2. Non-governmental Assistance and Development Aid: During the period (2005-2009) the value of assistance and development aid provided by non-governmental organizations and charities in the State of Qatar

Articles

Proportional Distribution of Qatari Development Assistance and Aid by Sectors (2005-2009)

non-governmental assistance.

The second position was taken by Sheikh Eid bin Mohamed Charity with $152.3 million or 30.8%, followed by the Qatar Charity with $151.7 million or 30.7%, then Rota (Reach Out To Asia) with $12.9 million or 2.6%, Zakat Fund with $12.5 million or 2.5%, Islamic Dawaa (Call) Organization-Qatar Branch with $5.1 million or 1%, Sheikh Jassim bin Jabr Charity with $1.3 million or 0.3%, and finally Sheikh Thani bin Abdulla Al-Thani Charity with $533,000 or 0.1%.

rose from about $22.3 million in 2005 to $222.8 million in 2009, i.e. an annual rate of increase of 58.5.1%. The cumulative total of non-governmental assistance was 494.4 million in the period 2005-2009.

Qatari non-governmental institutions and charitable foundations vary in the amount of assistance and development aid they provided. Qatari Red Crescent comes at the forefront with a total of $157.8 million during the period from 2005 to 2009, or 31.9% of the total Qatari

The fourth chapter deals with the geographical Distribution of the Qatari Development Assistance where the development assistance provided by the Government of Qatar to various countries of the world indicates that most of this assistance was directed to Arab countries, which received $1.17billion during the period 2005-2009, i.e.

76.7% of the total governmental assistance, followed by the two Americas (7.7%), then the African countries (5.3%).

Qatari Non-governmental Development Assistance to various countries shows that the largest part went to Arab countries, which received $269.6 million in 2005-2009 constituting 54.5% of the total Qatari nongovernment assistance, the second position was taken by the Asian countries (17.5%), then the African countries (8.2%) and then

the European countries (4.1%) The fifth chapter deals with the distribution of Qatari Development Assistance and Aid by Sectors between 2005 and 2009. It shows that education was the foremost beneficiary sector of this assistance as it received 18.4% of the total of this assistance followed by the health care sector, which received 7.3%, then the water and sewage sector with 6% followed by the transport and telecommunications sector which received 5%, then industry and mining with 0.96% followed by agriculture and animal resources with 0.18% and finally the energy (electricity and gas) sector with 0.02%.

Other sectors constituted 62.1% and included development assistance to support the balances of payments of those developing countries facing deficit, in addition to the construction sector and social welfare systems as well as assistances at war time and circumstances of natural catastrophes.

It is worth-mentioning that the preparation of this study which was authenticated at the international and Arab organizations concerned with the development assistance and aid, was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the State of Qatar which contributed by providing the data required by this study.

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