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Maneesh Bakshi
Doha
BELGIUM is in favour of Kuwaiti mediation for an early solution to the GCC crisis, the outgoing Ambassador of Belgium to Qatar HE Christophe Payot has said.
Talking to Qatar Tribune during a farewell dinner hosted by the Pakistani community in his honour, Payot whose tenure in Doha ended recently, said:"Belgium fully supports Kuwaiti mediation to defuse the crisis in the Gulf. The solution to the current crisis lies in dialogue between Qatar and its neighbours."
"We believe dialogue between the concerned countries is the only way to move forward as it had happened during an earlier crisis in 2014. Similar efforts are needed to resolve the crises in Syria, Libya and also while dealing with terrorism," Payot remarked.
According to Payot, the European Union (EU) has shown its support for the Kuwaiti mediation to resolve the Gulf crisis and Belgium being part of the EU fully supports the EU's stand. He mentioned the visit of the High Representative of EU Federica Mogherini to Kuwait last month in this regard.
The ambassador added:"Belgium looks forward to an early solution to this problem as it will be in favour of all the actors as well as trading partners and other stakeholders. Besides, both Gulf countries and Europe are very much affected by the crises in Syria, Libya and Yemen and hence need to focus on finding an early solution to these crises."
When asked if the unjust economic blockade imposed on Qatar has affected the Belgian companies operating in Qatar in any way, he said:"So far, none of the companies have reported any such issue and the trade figures are also not available at the moment to suggest that it has harmed their interests."
The ambassador said:"The blockade, however, has definitely led to human rights violations causing splitting of families and financial losses to Qataris due to abrupt closure of their businesses in the siege countries and harming students studying there. Therefore, a quick solution to the current Gulf imbroglio through negotiations and dialogue is a must."
He added:"Regarding the preparations for the FIFA 2022 World Cup, we have been told by organisers that all the major projects are moving forward as per schedule and the blockade has hardly affected them, which is good news for everyone."
When asked about what he will remember about Qatar the most, the ambassador said:"Hospitable people, culturally alive, diplomatically evolving and demographically diverse are some of the characteristics of Qatar that I will remember throughout my life."
Diplomatic ties between Belgium and Qatar touched a new high during Payot's tenure in terms of trade, culture, art, food and sports. Payot, who will serve as Belgium's deputy ambassador in the USA, is slated to leave Qatar on Thursday.
