Least said, soonest mended - Oman and the Doha Summit
Remember the Doha summit at the end of March? Probably not. And I expect many in the Arab world would probably like to forget about it too.
This year's Arab League summit meeting, held in Doha, capital of Qatar, was intended to promote Inter-Arab reconciliation following Israel's violent invasion of Gaza at the end of last year. A united front was also sought to take a stand against the spread of Shi'ism sponsored by Iran.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia met the presidents of both Egypt and Syria earlier in the month to broach a rapprochement. Egypt and Saudi Arabia support "Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, while Syria and Qatar back the Islamist(? an interesting attribute conferred by the reporter) Hamas." Both Hamas and Hizbullah in Lebanon are supported by Shi'ite Iran.
King Abdullah was reported to have warned that the dispute between the Palestinian factions was a far greater threat than Israeli aggression.
It was evident that Qatar's ruler, the emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, was keen to promote Doha as a viable alternative mediator in the region in opposition to Egypt and Saudi Arabia. But Arabs generally are mistrustful over Qatar's identification with Iran.
The additional flaw in the ointment was the invitation to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes against civilians in Darfur. Asharq alAwsat reported that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was angered by the ICC's decision because, with UN troops fighting in southern Sudan, he felt that negotiations ought to continue with the Sudanese government.
Omar Al-Bashir was duly welcomed at the summit by his Arab brethren, if only because he is an elected representative of his country, and it doesn't do to incite mutiny. (I stand corrected. Omar Al-Bashir came to power in a bloodless military coup in 1989. He is a candidate in democratic presidential elections in Sudan to be held in 2010.) Ban Ki-Moon was said to have defied the advice of UN Legal Counsel in meeting President Al Bashir on the sidelines of the Doha conference. Ban Ki-Moon did address the conference urging the Sudanese government to reverse its decision to expel 13 international aid groups.
Ultimately, the meeting issued a joint communique, delivered by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa. The statement began with a rejection of the ICC's arrest warrant for Omar Al Bashir and "support of Sudan to bring peace in Darfur."
Thereafter came the usual platitudes requesting Palestinian unity, Israeli withdrawal to pre-1967 borders, Iraqi sovereignty, IAEA investigation of Israel's nuclear capability, an affirmation of Arab rights to develop nuclear energy, a call for "the international community to support developing countries to fill the gap between rich and poor countries," and the importance of emphasising Arab culture and identity.
Iran was mentioned only in the context of the three islands in the Arabian/Persian Gulf contested with UAE.
The issue over Sudan seemed to have sidetracked the original objectives of the summit.
The meeting was hardly unified. Libya's Muammar al Gaddafi was initially said to have strode out of the meeting after "denouncing the Saudi king [ ] calling him a "British product and American ally." A later report indicated that Gaddafi was challenged by the Qatari Emir and mollified his earlier remarks, Gaddafi justified his outburst saying, “I am king of the kings of Africa and leader of the faithful and could not take another position.” Sheikh Hamad was even reported to have apologised to Mr Gaddafi for having misunderstood him.
King Abdullah of Jordan was said to have left the summit early as a protest at not being met at the airport by the Qatari emir in person. It might just be that he left in order to distance himself from the proceedings.
What was Oman's part in this?
For one thing, HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said did not attend. His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, deputy prime minister for the Council of Ministers represented Oman, leading a delegation which included Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Oman's minister responsible for foreign affairs.
I think Oman was probably conducting quiet diplomacy of its own. Foreseeing a possible impasse at the summit and not wishing to be directly involved with it, His Majesty chose instead to speak with other Arab leaders individually. President Mubarak of Egypt went to Oman for a two-day state visit before the Doha summit, but following his meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia earlier in March. He was given full ceremonial and due.
President Mubarak was also absent from the Doha Summit.
Early in April, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, who had been at Doha, visited Muscat for a two-day meeting with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. One can only conclude that there was a cordial and frank exchange of views and information.
I rather liked the following comment reportedly made by Dr Bouthaina Shaaban, the Syrian president’s political and media adviser: "Arabs have to change the mechanisms through dealing with each other in a scientific and practical way."
I recommend reading the editorial in Asharq AlAwsat: The Doha Summit of Repentance: "What we saw take place in Doha was the continuation of a recurring error and Arab emotionalism that we are yet to understand in spite of all the tragedies that have occurred."
This year's Arab League summit meeting, held in Doha, capital of Qatar, was intended to promote Inter-Arab reconciliation following Israel's violent invasion of Gaza at the end of last year. A united front was also sought to take a stand against the spread of Shi'ism sponsored by Iran.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia met the presidents of both Egypt and Syria earlier in the month to broach a rapprochement. Egypt and Saudi Arabia support "Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, while Syria and Qatar back the Islamist(? an interesting attribute conferred by the reporter) Hamas." Both Hamas and Hizbullah in Lebanon are supported by Shi'ite Iran.
King Abdullah was reported to have warned that the dispute between the Palestinian factions was a far greater threat than Israeli aggression.
It was evident that Qatar's ruler, the emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, was keen to promote Doha as a viable alternative mediator in the region in opposition to Egypt and Saudi Arabia. But Arabs generally are mistrustful over Qatar's identification with Iran.
The additional flaw in the ointment was the invitation to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes against civilians in Darfur. Asharq alAwsat reported that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was angered by the ICC's decision because, with UN troops fighting in southern Sudan, he felt that negotiations ought to continue with the Sudanese government.
Omar Al-Bashir was duly welcomed at the summit by his Arab brethren, if only because he is an elected representative of his country, and it doesn't do to incite mutiny. (I stand corrected. Omar Al-Bashir came to power in a bloodless military coup in 1989. He is a candidate in democratic presidential elections in Sudan to be held in 2010.) Ban Ki-Moon was said to have defied the advice of UN Legal Counsel in meeting President Al Bashir on the sidelines of the Doha conference. Ban Ki-Moon did address the conference urging the Sudanese government to reverse its decision to expel 13 international aid groups.
Ultimately, the meeting issued a joint communique, delivered by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa. The statement began with a rejection of the ICC's arrest warrant for Omar Al Bashir and "support of Sudan to bring peace in Darfur."
Thereafter came the usual platitudes requesting Palestinian unity, Israeli withdrawal to pre-1967 borders, Iraqi sovereignty, IAEA investigation of Israel's nuclear capability, an affirmation of Arab rights to develop nuclear energy, a call for "the international community to support developing countries to fill the gap between rich and poor countries," and the importance of emphasising Arab culture and identity.
Iran was mentioned only in the context of the three islands in the Arabian/Persian Gulf contested with UAE.
The issue over Sudan seemed to have sidetracked the original objectives of the summit.
The meeting was hardly unified. Libya's Muammar al Gaddafi was initially said to have strode out of the meeting after "denouncing the Saudi king [ ] calling him a "British product and American ally." A later report indicated that Gaddafi was challenged by the Qatari Emir and mollified his earlier remarks, Gaddafi justified his outburst saying, “I am king of the kings of Africa and leader of the faithful and could not take another position.” Sheikh Hamad was even reported to have apologised to Mr Gaddafi for having misunderstood him.
King Abdullah of Jordan was said to have left the summit early as a protest at not being met at the airport by the Qatari emir in person. It might just be that he left in order to distance himself from the proceedings.
What was Oman's part in this?
For one thing, HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said did not attend. His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, deputy prime minister for the Council of Ministers represented Oman, leading a delegation which included Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Oman's minister responsible for foreign affairs.
I think Oman was probably conducting quiet diplomacy of its own. Foreseeing a possible impasse at the summit and not wishing to be directly involved with it, His Majesty chose instead to speak with other Arab leaders individually. President Mubarak of Egypt went to Oman for a two-day state visit before the Doha summit, but following his meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia earlier in March. He was given full ceremonial and due.
President Mubarak was also absent from the Doha Summit.
Early in April, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, who had been at Doha, visited Muscat for a two-day meeting with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. One can only conclude that there was a cordial and frank exchange of views and information.
I rather liked the following comment reportedly made by Dr Bouthaina Shaaban, the Syrian president’s political and media adviser: "Arabs have to change the mechanisms through dealing with each other in a scientific and practical way."
I recommend reading the editorial in Asharq AlAwsat: The Doha Summit of Repentance: "What we saw take place in Doha was the continuation of a recurring error and Arab emotionalism that we are yet to understand in spite of all the tragedies that have occurred."
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