From 25 to 29 August 2025, DISACT team member Alexandros Zachariades participated in the EISA PEC 2025 conference, held at the University of Bologna. Alexandros presented a paper on small state status-building amid conflict in the Middle East, focusing on the foreign policy responses of Cyprus and Qatar to the war in Gaza. The paper examined how both states have sought to enhance their international status by positioning themselves as “useful” and “good” actors. Pertinent to the work of DISACT, the presentation highlighted Cyprus’s failure to leverage its expertise in investigating enforced disappearances as a diplomatic tool, despite the ongoing relevance of enforced disappearances in Syria and Lebanon. The conference provided an opportunity to share findings and receive constructive feedback.