New York:Qatar participated in the 16th Ministerial Meeting of the UN Group of Friends of Mediation, held during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The country was represented by HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi.

According to Qatar News Agency, Dr. Al Khulaifi addressed the meeting, noting the complexity and opportunity presented by the diverse actors involved in mediation today. He emphasized Qatar's active role in mediation efforts globally, citing examples from Gaza, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Qatar has worked to bridge differences and sustain hopes for peace.

Dr. Al Khulaifi highlighted Qatar's ongoing collaborative efforts with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions between Iran and the United States, ensure navigation freedom through the Strait of Hormuz, and foster regional peace. These initiatives underline the necessity of partnerships and the importance of mediators operating safely, impartially, and confidentially.

He stressed the vital need to protect mediation efforts and mediators, especially in armed conflict scenarios. While international laws offer some protections, their enforcement is challenging. Dr. Al Khulaifi pointed out that modern threats to mediation include interference with communications, confidentiality breaches, cyber threats, and disinformation, all of which pose significant risks to the integrity of mediation processes.