Qatar

Last week, Doha became the first Arab capital to formally announce its intention to write off some of the massive debt burden incurred by Iraq during the past 25 years. While most analysts see the move as having little effect on either the Qatari or Iraqi economy, it is nonetheless being seen as an important first step in encouraging other Arab nations to follow suit.

Despite the recent focus on major gas deals, Qatar is also still trying to put itself on the map in sectors that require a more human kind of energy with the Doha Asian Games. Scheduled for 2006, preparations for this athletics tournament have placed a series of construction projects centre stage, all of which aim to make the small Gulf emirate a regional business and tourism hub.

Qatari officials made use of the second US-Islamic World Forum, held in Doha January 13-15, as a stage to express moderate Arab concerns about US foreign policy, particularly with regards to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the ongoing conflict in Iraq.

Although Qatar played host to the World Petroleum Congress earlier this month, more attention has been focused recently on the country's expanding gas industry.

With a recent reshuffle of its board of directors, the internationally renowned Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera may be facing some profound changes in the months ahead -- with the station's troubles also shedding light on some of the major issues facing the region's media.

While the situation in Iraq continues to be a cause of concern for the region, as well as for the US-led coalition trying to restore order in the war-ravaged nation, Qatar is taking a more prominent role in trying to improve conditions in the country.