On a visit to doha to attend the Doha Forum held on December 14-15, 2019, I saw the phenomenal progress the city has made since 1996 when I left after completing my four-year term as India’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar. The city has been beautified, and the museum that opened in 2018 is flawlessly designed; one learns a lot about geography, geology, and evolution there.
Another significant change is the sharp fall in the average age of the Ministers. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is 39 years old. The Ministers who attended the Doha Forum spoke well. Tough questions on the treatment of foreign labor engaged in the preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup were addressed adroitly, projecting a proactive mindset to set things right. Qatar has done a lot to improve a lot of workers, but the Minister admitted that much more needed to be done and assured the interlocutor that it was a work in progress. What is welcome is the positive approach as many governments in a similar situation might have denied there was a problem. The motto of the Doha Forum, namely, Diplomacy, Dialogue, and Diversity, is more than a motto.
THE DOHA FORUM
It was the 10th year of the Doha Forum. Over 1,200 delegates from 102 countries were invited and the logistics were flawless. The theme was “The guiding principles for better governance in a multipolar world”. The papers, prepared in collaboration with the New York-based Stimson Center, were a study in the refreshingly original analysis.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani emphasized the need for dialogue in sorting out the differences between or among countries before they got out of hand. Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad made a similar point. The 94-year-old leader was practically grilled by the Al Jazeera anchor Mehdi Hasan. When he was specifically asked about his retirement plans, Mahathir Mohamad made it clear that there were none.
This story is from the February 14, 2020 edition of FRONTLINE.
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This story is from the February 14, 2020 edition of FRONTLINE.
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An empty package
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