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The two biggest pluses to emerge from the unjustified blockade of Qatar are the unity exhibited by its people and the wise response of the leadership, negating its economic and social impact.
Those were the thoughts of the Italian Ambassador to Qatar HE Pasquale Salzano, which he expressed to Al Watan in an exclusive interview.
He pointed out that the quick and effective measures taken by Qatar turned the crisis into an opportunity for the country to diversify its economy and trade relations and further develop domestic manufacturing. In this context, new opportunities have also emerged for foreign investors, including Italian companies."Our aim is to further develop cooperation between Italy and Qatar and diversify to reach all sectors of common interest."
The Ambassador said that the number of high-level visits by Italian delegations in less than eight months the Italian Prime Minister and six ministers demonstrates Italy's commitment to be a reliable partner for Qatar and to contribute to its policies of national self-sufficiency."This forward-looking vision which is focused on the diversification and sustainability of the economy, finds expression in the country even on a cultural level. The Qatar National Library project is a clear example of how the Qatari leadership is committed to investing in education in order to reach the national development goals by providing adequate knowledge resources to the future leaders. Italy supports and stands by Qatar in this process."
Expressing satisfaction about Qatari-Italian relations, Salzano stressed that these relations now cover many fields, encompassing defence, infrastructure, agriculture, sport, art and culture. This has resulted in increased people-to-people contact; more Italians have recently had the chance to visit Qatar and more Qataris choose Italy as a destination for business, study and tourism. Also helping is the fast-track visa scheme for Qataris by the Embassy of Italy.
A few months into his tenure in Qatar, the Ambassador described the country vibrant and beautiful with many unique features and attractions for visitors. He pointed out that wherever he goes, he always finds good opportunities to build something new with Qatari institutions and companies.
Social networks, he said, are a useful tool to this end because they facilitate direct communication and empathy with people, and allow foreign diplomats to be perceived as less formal and closer to daily life."Social networks are very useful for sharing political messages and useful information about activities and services in a simple and fast way," he said, stressing his keenness to share views and events on social media."This way, Qataris have the opportunity to learn more about Italy and Italians to learn more about Qatar, which is essential for the positive development of relations between the two countries."
Praising the friendly Qatari people and their generosity, the Ambassador highlighted their ability to promote innovation and progress, while remaining closely linked to their cultural and historical roots."For instance, the futuristic 'Msheireb Downtown Doha' project of a sustainable city perfectly embodies the aspiration to find a balance between the past, the present and the future, which is an aspect that our cultures have in common.
"Italian people do love and look for quality and beauty in their daily life: we like to eat healthy, indulge in sports and enjoy entertainment. It is a way of living which is well known all over the world as 'the art of wellbeing' or the 'Italian lifestyle'".
"Those who feel better with themselves, also feel better among others, are more tolerant, understand their social responsibility and treat the surrounding environment with greater respect. This approach is very clear in a pilot project underway in Italy, in Emilia Romagna. It is based on the idea of devoting an entire district to wellness, well-being and improving the quality of life, becoming the first district of its kind in the world."
"This project which draws inspiration from the local heritage with its people, traditions, history, art, nature and food could eventually be reproduced here in the future, making Qatar the first example of a 'wellness country' in the world," the Ambassador said.
