Qatar should revisit its priorities and realign with GCC

Stirring unrest against a fellow Arab nation is unworthy behaviour, writes Salem Al Nuaimi. Other views: Release of Syrian nuns (Hussam Itani) and Libya must unite (Al Bayan editorial).

Stirring political unrest is not a tactic worthy of an any Arab country, nor is using it against another Arab country, wrote columnist Salem Al Nuaimi in The National’s sister newspaper, Al Ittihad.

One must distinguish between disappointment in the Qataris over their foreign policy and Qatar as a country. Opinions are bound to diverge as some practices are going to cause discord among Gulf countries for various reasons.

Each political entity is entitled to take sovereign measures to ensure national safety and security, such is a right guaranteed by political logic and international laws and customs, though one must commit to other countries’ right to protect their own nations, especially between neighbour countries that share common borders.

It is not permissible for any Gulf state to fund, incite, conspire, support, serve as a base or externally fund or have recourse to methods that may result in destabilising neighbouring states in the Arab World and in the Gulf.

“As Arab peoples, we reject any rivalry or substantial differences that could instil weakness in the Arab ranks, despite the magnitude of the challenges and constraints heading our way from all directions, our national security is and remains vital” highlighted Al Nuaimi.

GCC countries long ago achieved their political independence and are still working on achieving independence in economy, knowledge, science and culture, but none of them wishes to be an “energy supermarket”.

There seems to be no rational explanation to recent happenings in the Gulf. “We hope that this does not result from the personal ambition of specific individuals, matters of political heritage and legacy they wish to secure alongside private business interests” explained the columnist. “A solo alliance with Iran, the Muslim Brotherhood, Israel and Turkey to keep the strait of Hormuz open would be pointless without unity in the GCC and unsustainable from a political and security perspective”, he added.

The mastermind behind the current instabilities in the Arab world, within a strategy to redraw the maps and leave a personal mark in the region, has miscalculated its approach.

GCC countries should elaborate a uniform foreign policy agenda, which should have been a prerequisite to any cooperation as it requires internal coordination to face external matters and the white weapons of diplomacy and agendas that may lead the Arab dream to its death.

The Emir of Qatar is an ambitious and intelligent young man who believes in the union of Gulf states. There is no doubt that he will realign his country’s foreign policy with that of the Council’s members.

Released nuns used for political purposes

A group of nuns held for three months by insurgents in Syria have finally been released in exchange for the release of more than 150 women detained by the Assad regime. This event, however, has been used for political purposes in Lebanon and Syria, Hussam Itani commented in the London-based Arabic daily Al Hayat.

The condemnation of the kidnapping and the group behind it, Jabhat Al Nusra, should not obscure some facts surrounding the issue from its start to its relatively happy ending, the writer said.

The Syrian regime still persists in using Syrians to improve its political image, using Qatar’s mediation to have the prisoners released, without concern about the legal status of the released people who have suffered arbitrary detention with all the maltreatment associated with it.

Secondly, the media coverage of the event, especially the Lebanese media, lacked objectivity and professional ethics. The suspicious insistence on Lebanon’s Arsal village and on the nuns’ statements that they had not been mistreated were examples of the media using the case for political purposes.

Thirdly, some political parties are using the nun incident to advance their political interests. They have excessively focused on the kidnapping and the issue of minority protection while they ignored that 1,400 Syrians have been killed by the regime’s chemical weapons.

Libyans must join hands to rebuild

The extremists in Libya have turned the country’s spring into a scorching summer, as turmoil continues to daunt the Libyans, editorialised the UAE-based newspaper Al Bayan.

While the government of prime minister Ali Zeidan struggles to build legislative and executive institutions to overcome the impasse, gunmen are destabilising and wreaking havoc on the country and seek to control oilfields, the paper noted.

The critical status quo in Libya requires collaboration between all Libyans, government and people and political forces, to cross this critical period.

Granted, some people might be unhappy with the government’s performance, but dissatisfaction should be expressed in the right way, without challenging the legitimate authorities or seeking personal gains.

Perhaps the number one requirement at this point is to collect weapons from all people who are not part of the state’s forces, and end the gunmen’s takeover of areas where oil is produced.

Libyans must join hands to fulfil the thorny task of ending Al Qaddafi’s legacy and establish the rule of law, the paper concluded.

* Digest compiled by Translation Desk