Cyprus and Qatar enjoy a close relationship and are both “very keen” to be peace facilitators around the world, which allows them to work together on the situation in Gaza and Syria, advisor to the Qatari prime minister and foreign ministry spokesman, Dr Majed al-Ansari has said.

In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, al-Ansari said Qatar is eager to use its national infrastructure to attract international investment, including from Cypriot companies and entrepreneurs.

He added that Qatar is also expanding its foreign investments, creating many opportunities for Cypriot participation.

Al-Ansari, who is currently in Cyprus for talks, said the two countries enjoyed a “very strong economic relationship” and referred to the cooperation between Qatar Energy and ExxonMobil in exploring for natural gas in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“There are a lot of synergies that we are working on and there are a lot of similarities between Qatar and Cyprus. Both of us are geographically small nations with very ambitious goals and an ambitious foreign policy,” he added.

Speaking about the “turbulent waters” in the region, he said, “Both our countries are eager to be forces for good and peace facilitators. That allows us to work together – on Gaza, on Syria – and this visit is part of that cooperation.”

Al-Ansari said his goal in visiting Cyprus was “to better understand Cypriot positions on key regional issues – Gaza, Lebanon, Syria – and to explore how we can work together toward peaceful resolutions.”

“It is very clear that there was a lot that we can do together, that there is a width in the relationship that can be broadened and especially when it comes to our good offices, both in Qatar and Cyprus, there are certainly a lot of things that we see eye-to-eye in and that we are already working on together,” he added.

The Qatari official said ties with Cyprus could be strengthened in various sectors, especially investments and energy, without excluding other fields such as the hotel and tourism industry.

Al-Ansari said the Qatar Investment Authority was also “investing heavily in a lot of real estate infrastructure and business opportunities all around the world and our businessmen obviously are always seeking opportunities, so that’s one main aspect that we need to develop together.”

On the diplomatic front, he cited Cyprus and Qatar’s cooperation on the humanitarian aid corridor for Gaza. “We’re looking ahead to further opportunities to help rebuild the region. This is our shared region – Qatar and Cyprus are both part of it.”

“We are facing the same issues, we are facing the same challenges and we are facing the same humanitarian catastrophes that are going on around this. So, I think there is a lot of opportunity to work together with Cyprus being a hub for humanitarian services and humanitarian help in Gaza, in Syria and supporting Lebanon and other places. And I think there is a lot of interest on both sides to work together,” he added.

Since the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza, he said, “We’ve been working with our mediation partners in Egypt and the United States to find new ways to resume a ceasefire.”

“Our main focus has been returning to the original agreement, which took months to prepare. We believe in it and in its potential for peaceful outcomes. We urge both parties to return to implementing it,” al-Ansari said.

“At the same time, we are working between Hamas and Israel to exchange ideas on any alternative or temporary format that would bring about a ceasefire to the ground,” he added.

Al-Ansary pointed out that “the main thing we should be focusing on right now is the fact that there are 2.3 million people under siege in Gaza” and that food supplies had been exhausted.

The World Food Programme announced this week that there is no food left in the whole sector, al-Ansari said, adding that children, women and elderly people were “going to start dying of hunger, of simple diseases, of thirst, of the heat or cold”.

“Weaponising food, water, and medicine is unacceptable under international law. There is no justification for denying sustenance or aid to the people of Gaza,” he said.

Al-Ansari concluded by commending Cyprus’ role in aid delivery: “Cyprus has been instrumental in finding innovative ways to bring humanitarian aid into the sector. We hope this collaboration continues.”