(FROM LEFT) Mehran Kamrava, Moderator, Center for International and Regional Studies; Shafeeq Ghabra, Professor of Political Science at Kuwait University; Dr Abdullah Baabood, Director of Gulf Studies Program at Qatar University; and Gerd Nonneman, Profe
Qatar has overcome the unjust blockade imposed by siege countries and gained global support due to wise political, diplomatic and economic policies adopted by the leadership. Qatar has shown resilience under the illegal siege, said experts sharing their insights about the blockade, during a discussion held yesterday at Georgetown University in Qatar’s, Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS).
The event ‘Crisis in the GCC: Causes, Consequences, and Prospects’ held at the University’s Education City campus, discussed the impact of the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar since June 5.
The three panelists, Dr Abdullah Baabood, director of the Gulf Studies Program at Qatar University, Dr Shafeeq Ghabra, professor of political science at Kuwait University and Dr Gerd Nonneman, professor of international relations and Gulf studies at Georgetown University in Qatar, shared their analysis on the causes and consequences of the crisis, what prompted Saudi Arabia and the UAE to impose the illegal blockade on Qatar. They also highlighted the measures Qatar has taken in response politically, economically, and diplomatically as well as how the country has successfully defeated the blockade.
Dr Baabood said, that Qatar has shown extreme resilience under the siege and has shaken the expectations of the other countries.
“Qatar has followed a high morale , in terms of how to deal with the people from the four countries in a humanitarian aspect. If you look at the media, of the four countries, they are attacking Qatar, yet the country that is wining the hearts and minds of the people is Qatar. It is because its following a very high moral and have an ethical way of wining its goal,” he said.
“Globally Qatar is wining the crisis,” he added.
Dr Ghabra, referred the blockade quoting Winston Churchill’s saying as, “We are at the end of the beginning.”
“Qatar was managing the crisis well. Usually managing crisis will make tension. But I saw Qataris is calm. There was a minister working. There was no tension the way they managed the crisis. They opened a route with Oman, they created a good connection with Iran, managed to workout relationships with the Europe,” he said.
“There was a one big miscalculation in this entire approach of blockade by other countries, as a result of that Qatar was able to hold itself. In this siege, as the words of Churchill, we are at the end of the beginning,” he added.
Dr Nonneman, during the discussion highlighted that Qatar is politically and economically strong at both local and international levels.“I think the economic means of Qatar are in place and banking sector is strong enough. International trade has been out on place and the Hamad Port will be fully functional in the coming months. So over the coming year, Qatar will be in a better position than now,” he said. The event was moderated by Dr Mehran Kamrava, Director, CIRS.
