qatar
![Cappadocia, Flickr Creative Commons via LWYang](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/Slide1_2.jpg?itok=cs-4eKYo)
This week in public diplomacy, we saw Turkey focus its efforts on cultural diplomacy.
Following the success of Qatar Brazil 2014, Qatar UK 2013 and Qatar Japan 2012, Qatar Museums Is proud to officially announce the launch of the Qatar Turkey 2015 Year of Culture.
Using its political stability, great economic wealth, and diplomatic ties with various local affiliates across the Middle East, Qatar developed a soft power strategy in several high-profile negotiations, from securing a key peace agreement in the Darfur conflict, to seeking political consensus in Lebanon, and mediating between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels.
Adopting an "open" foreign policy, which relied on soft power tools such as media, diplomacy, education, culture, sports, tourism, economy and humanitarian aid, Doha's strategy was based on good relations with neighbours, the formation of strategic alliances with major and medium powers and the building of a brand.
With huge trade and investment relations with Germany, Qatar has been accorded as the “most important Arab investor” by the Europe’s largest economy. The envoy said: “Qatar is the most important Arab investor in Germany. During the visit of His Highness a lot of focus was given to further strengthen bilateral economic and cultural ties between the two countries.”
Winners of the Create & Inspire 2014 competition from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the UK travelled to Brazil last month to experience one of the most colourful cultures in the world, on a creative adventure of a lifetime.
The ministry said: "All of the actions that have been taken against the two Britons are consistent with the principles of human rights enshrined in the Constitution and the laws of the State of Qatar," according to QNA. "There is a direct contact between the Qatari Foreign Ministry and the investigating authorities with the British Embassy in Doha in this regard," the agency added. Qatar came under heavy criticism early this year over reported violations of the rights of migrants workers building 2022 World Cup projects.
Standing at the front of a conference hall in Doha, the visiting sheikh told his audience of wealthy Qataris that to help the battered residents of Syria, they should not bother with donations to humanitarian programs or the Western-backed Free Syrian Army. “Give your money to the ones who will spend it on jihad, not aid,” implored the sheikh, Hajaj al-Ajmi, recently identified by the United States government as a fund-raiser for Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate.