Doha, December 07 (QNA) - Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi affirmed that the State of Qatar has maintained a consistent and supportive stance toward the Syrian people for fourteen years, without change or hesitation.

This commitment stems from Qatar's firm belief that empowering Syrians to reclaim their legitimate rights and build a sovereign state with prosperity and fair opportunities represents the correct path chosen since the outset.

His statement came during his participation in a session titled "New Syria One Year On: Assessing Progress, Opportunity & Challenges," at the Doha Forum 2025, where he emphasized that Qatar's wise leadership has viewed standing with the Syrian people not as a transient political choice, but as a long-term ethical and strategic commitment.

HE Al Khulaifi stressed that Qatar's policy has always been based on direct engagement, providing continuous humanitarian and development support to the Syrian people as well as backing the Syrian government.

He noted that this support has been delivered through Qatar's humanitarian and development institutions, foremost among them Education Above All and the Qatar Development Fund, which have implemented extensive projects in cooperation with Syrian authorities.

Regarding Qatar-Syria relations, he highlighted significant developments over the past twelve months, marking their strongest phase yet, with expanding cooperation across the financial, energy, and aviation sectors.

He also underscored Qatar's ongoing international role in defending a path that serves the aspirations of the Syrian people.

HE affirmed that Qatar views Syria within a comprehensive regional context, taking into account political developments in neighboring countries. He stressed that Qatar will remain a trusted partner to Arab states and will continue to engage actively in regional affairs, particularly the Syrian file.

On Syria's reconstruction, he indicated that Qatar continues its approach of direct engagement and expanding cooperation with Syrian partners across various sectors, with a focus on critical infrastructure, notably in finance, energy, and aviation.

He noted that while implemented projects are promising, they remain below the country's potential, given Syria's economic capabilities.

He added that the openness shown by the Syrian President and government to international investors enhances opportunities to build a sustainable economy, affirming Qatar's readiness to play an active role in advancing development in Syria, especially amid regional changes and growing international interest in supporting regional stability.

HE Al Khulaifi condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks on Syrian territories, calling them unacceptable, and urged the international community to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities to prevent further escalation in Syria and Lebanon.

He emphasized that achieving security stability is fundamental to the success of reconstruction efforts, stressing that Qatar will continue its close cooperation with the Syrian government alongside ongoing coordination with international partners.

Concluding, he reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to intensifying support for the Syrian government in facing upcoming challenges, particularly security threats, and to promoting measures that serve the Syrian people. He expressed optimism for the future of the region in general, and Syria in particular. (QNA)