As we begin this holy month of Ramadan, I extend my best wishes to all the people in Qatar. Ramadan is a special month of worship and devotion; it is also a time to reflect on all that we are grateful for in our lives.
My tenure as US Ambassador to Qatar has come to a close. Although I will not be in this wonderful country during Ramadan this year, I will certainly be reflecting on the years I have worked and lived here. I am honored to have represented the US in Qatar for the last three years. I am honored to have started my diplomatic career in Qatar 30 years ago. In so many ways, Qatar and I have grown together.
Let me try to give you a brief picture of the Qatar I knew as a young man: Three decades ago, there were only 200 Americans in the country, two-way trade was minimal and there were very few people-to-people exchanges between our countries. Today, the American presence in Qatar has grown exponentially, bilateral trade is $3.5bn, and hundreds of Qataris and Americans are embarking on educational and professional exchanges every year.
I say farewell as Ambassador to a country transformed by the vision of its extraordinary leadership. But, inshallah, I will return to Qatar many times to continue my long relationship with this extraordinary country. My goal is to remain a good and strong friend of Qatar.
Qatar has distinguished itself as a peace broker, as an important security partner and as an important force for regional stability. In its efforts to shift to a knowledge-based society, Qatar is now the home of six premiere US universities teaching roughly 1,400 Qatari and international students. I have no doubt that the rising generation of Qataris graduating from these prestigious institutions will go on to design the eco-friendly stadiums for World Cup 2022, conduct world-class research in Sidra Medical Center, and lecture on geopolitics to packed classrooms of eager students. What an extraordinary time to witness what the next generation will do with the immense opportunities in front of them.
We have seen an unprecedented warming of relations between our countries in the last two years, from the top leadership level down. This year’s meeting between President Obama and His Highness the Emir of Qatar signified a significant structural shift in the political relationship between the US and Qatar — a shift that I am gratified to see. When President Obama saw the Emir in Washington, he expressed his great appreciation, and the appreciation of the United States for the Emir’s steadfast commitment to peaceful reform in the region.
In President Obama’s most recent address to the Arab world, he described the Middle East’s greatest untapped resource as the “talent of its people.” It is true. We have seen an unparalleled rising up of civil society – an awakening of voices and powerful ideas. All around Qatar, one sees energy, enthusiasm, and hope. People are texting, tweeting, and Facebooking about the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival, the latest Al Jazeera story, US policy in Libya, and Qatar’s involvement in peace in Sudan. I know this, because many of you tweeted me about these issues. We are listening.
As the Middle East opens a new chapter in its history, so does American diplomacy. There is excitement throughout the US Government about engaging our new partners and supporting their aspirations in this era of renewal and reform. I plan to continue to be a part of this engagement, in a different capacity in the private sector, but equally meaningful, I hope. So, to the people of Qatar, goodbye for now. I cherish the friendships I have made in this wonderful country and know I will be seeing you again soon. Ramadan Kareem.
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