RIAC Hosts a Meeting for Experts from Russia, Qatar, and Turkey to Discuss Qatar Crisis

On August 1, 2017, RIAC hosted a meeting between Russian experts and the representatives of Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM) and Qatar Centre for Strategic Research. Andrey Kortunov, RIAC Director General, Süleyman Şensoy, Chairman of TASAM, and Hamad Mohammed al-Marri, Director of Qatar Centre for Strategic Research at Qatar Armed Forces, made opening speeches. All three speakers underscored the importance of dialogue and the urge for balanced assessment in the context of the crisis.

Qatar and Turkey drew attention to the existing partnership in the region between their states. It was noted that demonstration of crisis relations between Qatar and other Gulf countries had a negative impact not only on the regional agenda, but also on the development of contacts between the states at the global level. The following issues are being escalated: manageability of the international system, change in the balance of power in the world, and increased competition for resources. This framework shapes certain expectations with regard to Russia as a state having authority in international affairs and able to take part in regional crises resolution.

The expert discussion also touched upon the issues on developing strategic vision in terms of crises resolution in the Gulf countries and in the the Eastern Mediterranean. It was stated that the situation in Yemen deserves as much attention as the developments around Qatar and Syria.

The experts from the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and from Moscow State Institute of International Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia also represented the Russian side. Ambassador Alexander Aksenyonok, RIAC member, shared his professional views on the issue. 

Timur Makhmutov, RIAC Deputy Program Director, was moderating the discussion. The working languages of the meeting were English, Turkish, and Arabic.