ARAB/MIDDLE EAST CHANGES.

Wednesday, 3rd of September 2025, 6.30 pm
Bruno Kreisky Hall / Diplomatische Akademie Wien Favoritenstraße 15a. 1040 Wien/Vienna, Österreich/Austria

Gudrun Harrer in conversation with H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State, Qatar, and Amb. Dr. Wolfgang Petritsch MEDIATION IN TIMES OF WAR AND CONFLICT – PERSPECTIVES FOR PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

For many decades, the Middle East has seen conflicts and wars, economic and social challenges. The Gulf states, however, stand out in their strategic use of energy resources and economic development, but also differ in their respective regional and global policy engagements. Its geographical location and economic strength make Qatar a powerful player in the MENAT – Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye - economic region and a strategic business partner for the EU. Even before the recent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian con-flict, and Israel’s war on Gaza, the State of Qatar has distinguished itself also as a mediator in conflicts in the Middle East and beyond for years. Qatari diplomacy has achieved this by establishing and maintaining rela-tions with political forces and actors that have stayed inaccessible for other states. Qatar’s services as one of the key mediators between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas have also been of critical importance following the latter’s heinous attack on Israel on 7th October 2023.

The official visit to Austria of H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State, whose man-date includes mediation efforts, brings a proven expert in this field to Vienna. Minister Al-Khukaifi will speak on “Qatar’s Subtle Strength: How a Small State Became a Global Mediation Leader”, followed by a conversa-tion and discussion. It is an important and timely opportunity to learn more about Qatar’s views on the pro-spect of ending Israel’s war on Gaza and “the Day After”. What are the options for reviving an Israeli-Pales-tinian peace process and what visions are there for a new lasting security architecture in the Middle East?

H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State. His Excellency’s mandate includes media-tion efforts, resolving conflicts, and supporting Qatar’s role in the peaceful settlement of disputes. Prior to that, Minister Al-Khulaifi served as Assistant Foreign Minister for Regional Affairs and as Dean of the College of Law at Qatar University. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Law from Qatar University and obtained both his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Law from the University of California, Berkeley, USA. He has authored and published numerous articles and research papers in the field of law and serves on several State councils and committees. In 2018, Dr. Al-Khulaifi served as Legal Advisor to His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, and as the Agent of the State of Qatar before the Inter-national Court of Justice in The Hague.

Amb. Dr. Wolfgang Petritsch, Board Member of the Bruno Kreisky Forum for international Dialogue and President of the Austrian Institute for International Affairs. Amb. Petritsch held many important European and international diplomatic functions, i.a. as the EU Special Envoy and Chief Negotiator at the Kosovo peace talks in Rambouillet and Paris 1998/99 and between 1999 and 2002 as the International Community's High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina in charge of the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Ac-cords which ended the 1992-95 Bosnian war. Mr. Petritsch has taught and published extensively on conflict resolution and mediation.

Dr. Gudrun Harrer, journalist, senior editor, Der Standard, and lecturer for Modern History and Politics of the Near and Middle East at the University of Vienna and at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna.