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Shqair leaves his post with optimism about the relationship\u2019s prospects. \u201cLooking ahead, the prospects for Arab-Brazilian relations are highly promising. This growing momentum is vividly illustrated by an increasing trend of high-level bilateral visits,\u201d he says, citing President Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva\u2019s visit to Arab countries in early 2024, which culminated in a historic address at the Arab League Council on February 15. \u201cIt represents a pivotal milestone in these relations,\u201d he adds. According to him, equally significant was the Arab League\u2019s participation\u2014for the first time\u2014in the G20 Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in November 2023 and led by the Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe overarching ambition now is to forge a strategic framework that transcends geographical distance, elevating conventional trade exchanges into comprehensive, multifaceted partnerships,\u201d he says about the future. Shqair advocates the creation of industrial zones in Mediterranean ports with both Arab and Latin American investment. \u201cThese zones are envisioned as pivotal logistical and investment hubs, seamlessly connecting the Arab region with Latin America through joint investments and cross-border ventures, thereby fostering a robust and dynamic economic alliance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the written interview given to ANBA, Ambassador Qais Shqair said he took office at a particularly sensitive and unprecedented time since the establishment of the Arab League Mission in Rio de Janeiro in 1958. \u201cThe transitional period with the League of Arab States, demanded a revitalized commitment to engagement and outreach with Brazilian institutions, the diplomatic community, the media, and the dynamic Arab diaspora dispersed across the nation,\u201d the ambassador said.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Regarding his time leading the Arab League Mission in Brazil, he recalls several activities, such as the Mission\u2019s hosting of regular and extraordinary sessions of the Council of Arab Ambassadors accredited in Brazil, as well as participation in the Economic Forum Brazil-Arab Countries, organized by the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> (ABCC<\/a>), and in the Global Halal Brazil Business Forum, held by the ABCC in partnership with FAMBRAS Halal Certifier in 2021, 2023, and again in October of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDirect engagement with Brazilian society proved to be one of the most effective means of communication,\u201d he said, citing the publication of several articles in influential media outlets and ongoing dialogue with civil society institutions. With the media and Arab ambassadors, the Mission organized open symposiums and working breakfasts. \u201cThese gatherings provided an esteemed platform for unreserved and insightful dialogue, catalyzing opportunities to further strengthen the deepening ties between the Arab world and Brazil.,\u201d Shqair said. The diplomat also highlighted the contribution of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil to promoting the enhancement of relations between the Arab countries and Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April of this year, the League of Arab States celebrated its 80th<\/sup> anniversary. On that occasion, the Mission in Brazil held a reception to mark the date, which included a photo exhibition retracing the early moments of the Arab League\u2019s presence in Brazil and Latin America, dating back to the 1950s. According to the ambassador, the League of Arab States is the oldest regional and international organization in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shqair sees the cultural dimension of the Arab-Brazilian partnership as another pillar of the relationship. \u201cThis relationship traces its origins to the 19th<\/sup> century visit of Emperor Dom Pedro II to Egypt, Syria, and Palestine, accompanied by scholars and technicians whose contributions profoundly enriched Brazil\u2019s intellectual and cultural environment,\u201d he says. The diplomat recalls that, in the wake of that historic moment, successive generations of Arab immigrants came to Brazil. \u201cThey have woven vibrant threads into Brazil\u2019s diverse and dynamic social tapestry, shaping its multicultural identity,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A man of letters and culture as well, the ambassador believes that this shared heritage calls for deeper cultural and media collaboration, driven by synergistic initiatives from both the public and private sectors of the Arab world and Brazil. Shqair says that during his time in Brazil, he explored the country\u2019s literature and was impressed by the cosmopolitan spirit of eminent writers such as Jorge Amado, whose works, he notes, reflect Brazil\u2019s openness to world cultures\u2014especially European, and particularly French\u2014while preserving an authentic Brazilian identity. \u201cThis identity, a vibrant synthesis forged through the confluence of Indigenous, African and the contributions of immigrants from Europe and Asia continents, encapsulates the essence of Brazil\u2019s singular cultural mosaic,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The diplomat\u2019s wife, Shatha Jarrar, is also a figure of letters and culture. \u201cMy wife, Dr. Shatha Jarrar, assistant professor of Arabic language, joined me in the task of engaging with Brazilian academy, by volunteering in teaching Arabic at the University of Brasilia (UnB) for three consecutive semesters,\u201d he said. The ambassador noted that he and his family were deeply moved by the warmth, generosity, and camaraderie of the Brazilian people. \u201cAs we prepare to bid farewell to this remarkable nation, encompassing its twenty-six states, the tranquil elegance of its capital, Bras\u00edlia, and its myriad resplendent cities, we carry with us an enduring gratitude for the profound connections forged during our time here.,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before serving in Brazil, Shqair was a career diplomat at Jordan\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served at his country\u2019s embassies in Athens, Ankara, Rome, Muscat, and Cairo. This week, Qais Shqair was honored at a farewell dinner hosted by the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil in Bras\u00edlia. Among the officials and guests in attendance were Cl\u00e9lio Nivaldo Crippa Filho, director of the Middle East Department at Brazil\u2019s Foreign Ministry, and Mohamad Orra Mourad, secretary-general & vice president of international relations at the ABCC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more<\/em>: Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\nCulture, literature, letters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The first mission of the Arab League to Brazil<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n