Doha,16 Dec. 2024
Javier Colomina, NATO's Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, expressed his appreciation during the closing session of the 6th Policy Advisory Group (PAC) meeting. He shared that all sessions were well-received and participants were highly satisfied with the discussions.
Colomina extended his thanks to Qatar for its exceptional organization of the event, emphasizing that the meeting aimed to provide new insights and enhance mutual understanding among participants.
He highlighted the value of the PAC meeting as an effective platform for open exchanges, particularly in a rapidly changing global environment. He underscored the importance of hearing diverse perspectives from NATO Allies and partners, and he eagerly anticipated the next meeting.
Colomina pointed to a key highlight of the event, where partners shared valuable insights from their extensive mediation efforts. He was pleased to observe a shared commitment to the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) among both NATO Allies and partners, a theme consistently reflected in the breakout sessions.
Colomina stressed that the political dialogue experienced at the meeting was a benchmark for their partnership, noting the PAC's tradition of thinking beyond the conventional. This year’s sessions were enriched by the inclusion of more political themes and the participation of global and allied observers, reflecting the growing confidence in the initiative.
He also emphasized the significance of coordinating public diplomacy efforts and expressed NATO’s readiness to engage more deeply on this front.
Colomina further discussed his hopes for his new role as Director-General for the Southern Neighbourhood, focusing on practical ways to enhance cooperation and stability in the region.
He highlighted key takeaways from the meeting, including the necessity for comprehensive international engagement to address regional crises. He stressed the importance of leveraging recent decisions, such as the Southern Neighbourhood Action Plan, to transform political dialogue into concrete actions. He also noted the importance of issues such as Iran, emerging technologies, and NATO-PCC collaboration.
Ambassador Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Jehani Al Malki, Qatar’s Ambassador to the EU and NATO, also addressed the session, thanking all participants, especially the Assistant Secretary-General of the GCC. He noted the continuous development of the relationship between NATO and the ICI, reflected in legal agreements and various areas of cooperation.
Al Malki emphasized the productive discussions on critical security challenges, such as terrorism, energy security, and crisis management. He also acknowledged the importance of cooperation in light of current regional developments, particularly in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Sudan.
Giovanni Romani, Head of the Southern Neighbourhood Task Force, closed the session by thanking HE the Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, as well as Ambassador Al Malki, for their hospitality. He also expressed gratitude to all participants and the NATO organizing team for their contributions to the success of the meeting.
Speaking to www.asiantelegraphqatar.com on the occasion, Javier Colomina, NATO's Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, expressed his satisfaction on the meeting, stating that the event marked the sixth ICI PAC held in the 20 years of NATO's cooperation framework with the Gulf.
He highlighted Qatar's role as a very active partner among the Gulf states, noting its increased involvement in recent years, which led to its decision to co-host the meeting.
Colomina emphasized the importance of the discussions, which covered various security crises, the instability in international relations, and key challenges such as maritime security, climate change, and the fight against terrorism.
He concluded by describing the event as a great success and expressed his pleasure in chairing it.
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Thank you to the author for this excellent article, which provides a comprehensive and insightful summary of the 6th Policy Advisory Group meeting. It effectively highlights the significance of NATO's initiatives, Qatar's exceptional role, and the key discussions on pressing regional and global challenges.