Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Mirdif Al Qashouti from the Middle East Council on Global Affairs held a majlis titled “Mediation in the foreign policy of the smaller Gulf states: The Qatari model” at the prestigious Waseda University in Tokyo on Monday 

Qatar’s Ambassador to Japan, Jaber Jarallah Al-Marri, attended the event along with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, and Yemen’s Ambassador, Adel Al-Sunaini.

Al Qashouti described mediation cases that Qatar has been involved in and how this has been addressed in the science of international relations and foreign policy.  

“We elaborated on challenges and opportunities when it comes to mediation and how it can be attuned to soft power and foreign policy,” he told Arab News Japan. “We also discussed the challenges coming from such a role, how it can be used to undermine efforts and how the media can help or hinder mediation.”

Al Qashouti covered situations where major shifts occur in the positions of the superpowers and how negotiators can maintain their integrity.

The majlis also covered how mediation is one of the tools that countries use to highlight their soft power in a way that serves their interests and enhances their position regionally and internationally. It also shed light on several models of mediation, while highlighting the research methodology in the field.

Al Qashouti thanked the Qatari Ambassador for his involvement and praised the members of the audience for their “deep understanding.”

The majlis was organized by Professor Abdullah Baabood, the Chair of the State of Qatar for Islamic Area Studies. 

The program at Waseda University aims to support research activities in the fields of language, literature, culture, religion, history, politics, economics, and international relations, and how these relate to Islamic civilization. It was established to support the spirit of friendship and partnership between the State of Qatar and Japan and to fully contribute to the development of knowledge and understanding of aspects of the Islamic World, its people, and its heritage.