Gulf states must unite to solve crises in the Middle East, says Gargash

ABU DHABI // Gulf states should play a bigger part in assuring Middle East stability, Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, says.

Dr Gargash said the United Nations and Arab countries should work together to reduce tensions and work towards peace and stability.

“The international community has to reverse the failures of recent years by providing a more effective role,” he said. “Rather than the UN mirroring new geopolitical tensions, we must seek to empower the secretary-general designate in order to reverse recent setbacks.”

Dr Gargash said crises in Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Iraq had spiralled out of control and neglecting them was a recipe for unremitting chaos and violence, extremism and instability.

“To break out of this cycle requires difficult decisions, collective action and a continuous search for constructive solutions,” he said.

“The international community can no longer merely manage crises in the Middle East. Instead, our focus must shift to resolution, and failure to take early action has inevitably led to disastrous consequences and ensured that crises have produced their own sets of sub-crises, imposing a heavy economic and humanitarian toll.”

Empowering nations to counter the rise of sectarianism was key, the minister said.

“The Arab world continues to pay a heavy price for the sectarian agendas promoted by regional actors,” Dr Gargash said. “Their expansionary and divisive politics breed hatred and erode the very foundations of our states and communities.”

He mentioned Iran’s interference in Arab countries’ affairs and its funding and support of instability in Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria.

“Iran has been further emboldened by the recent nuclear deal, interpreting it as acquiescence of its regional expansion,” he said. “This was truly a historic opportunity for Iran to have embarked on a constructive and respectful approach towards its Arab neighbours. Instead, it has chosen to continue its political expansion and sectarian pronouncement.”

Dr Sultan Al Nuaimi, an analyst of Iranian affairs and faculty member of the University of Abu Dhabi, said the GCC faced threats that must be answered by a unified voice.

“There is no issue for bilateral ties between any GCC state and Iran,” he said. “But this shouldn’t jeopardise any of the six countries.”

Dr Ebtesam Al Ketbi, president of the Emirates Policy Centre, said not all GCC countries had “the same standpoint on Iran”.

“We have different opinions regarding the threat and we’re not all on the same page,” she said.

Dr Gargash said there was a need to build a consensus of moderate Arab states to promote a stable, open and dynamic region, led by Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

“The international community needs to closely engage with them, and we must think creatively of how a modernised Arab region system can pull us out of the current mess. Riyadh and Cairo are critical towards realising such a new regional architecture.”