The 2024 Doha Forum began on Saturday in Qatar, bringing together regional and international guests for discussions on pressing global issues.
The two-day event, themed “The Innovation Imperative,” focuses on geopolitical and technological challenges in the Middle East and beyond. The 22nd edition features prominent participants from the public and private sectors.
The forum was inaugurated with a speech by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, who highlighted the importance of multilateral dialogue in tackling global challenges.
Among the many topics discussed, Afghanistan took center stage in a session titled “A Future Rewritten: How the Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Law Could Reshape Afghanistan.” The session, held on Saturday, examined the implications of the Taliban’s policies on women’s rights, international aid, and Afghanistan’s engagement with the global community.
Among notable attendees was Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who commented on Syria, Palestine, and Ukraine. Regarding Syria, Lavrov expressed caution about recent setbacks for Bashar Assad’s regime following rebel advances in Aleppo. He stated that Russia continues to provide military support to Syria, including air assistance.
Speakers at the 2024 Doha Forum
On Palestine, Lavrov condemned the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks but criticized Israel’s “collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
On Ukraine, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s stance, dismissing proposals to alter annexed territories as “infamous and stupid.” He also criticized Ukraine’s actions against Russian culture within its borders.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who also spoke at the forum, called for reforms to the United Nations Security Council. He described the organization as “indispensable” but stressed the need for updates to its structure.
Panama’s ambassador to Qatar, Johnny Mayani, shared his perspectives on the event with Colombia One.
“The Doha Forum is an important event for global affairs,” Mayani said. “Our presence here allows us to have a voice on the international stage,” he declared, referring to the Latin American presence at the event.
He praised the involvement of Latin American countries at the ministerial level, emphasizing the forum’s significance in global diplomacy. The ambassador also highlighted Qatar as a model of influence, noting its role as a regional mediator.
“Panama sees Qatar and the Gulf region as strategic for foreign investments,” Mayani said. “There is strong interest from Qatar’s government and private sector in Latin America as an emerging destination for growth.”
Doha Forum last convened in Doha in December 2023, bringing together more than 3,500 guests from over 120 countries, including more than 270 speakers, across the two-day event.
A leading platform for international dialogue, the Doha Forum featured other prominent figures, including Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, Türkiye First Lady Emine Erdogan, and Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin.
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