‘Crisis threatens GCC future’

‘Confederation guarantees unity’

“THE timing of writing this article coincides with the visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad to Jeddah City of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with his good offices to ease the tension among some of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member States and the State of Qatar,” columnist Dr Anwar Al-Shrai’aan wrote for Al-Shahed daily Wednesday.

“Over the past few days, the events happening in this part of the world have gone out of control. They have reached a fearful stage and no one seems to understand but instead the differences have taken a turn for the worse and developed into a significant political conflict where three GCC countries -- the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain – have used their political and economic cards to settle issues.

“In this context we venture to say the GCC countries had never before played the trump cards against any country except for Israel and Iraq of Saddam Hussein.

“The differences and struggles between these countries and Iran had not reached a level of boycott because we know in spite of all misunderstandings and differences commercial ties and air flights between all of the GCC member States and Iran are holding ground.

“Certainly, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain, reserve the right to take whatever action they feel appropriate against any State, but history has taught us that political differences will not last for good, hence, I will not be surprised to see the current crisis between these countries and Qatar ending in just a few hours or may be some days maximum.

“But it is needless to say the wounds may heal but the scar will remain caused by the relevant political differences. In other words, punishing the Qataris because of these differences can be deemed a harsh decision. I hope the Saudi brothers shall hasten to keep the differences at political and diplomatic levels without hurting the peoples.

“In this context, I would like to narrate a phrase from one play, ‘The Sheikhs know more than the others’. This saying has become a proverb and is fully applicable to the differences that have currently surfaced to govern the relations between the State of Qatar and its sisterly GCC countries.

“Such being the case as long as the Sheikhs know more than the others, then we expect the differences in question will end soon by virtue of the wisdom of the wise Arab HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad. We pray to Almighty Allah to protect him and eventually help him to narrow the gap in viewpoints among the relevant sisterly countries.

“But the question that is shrouded in the mystery of arguments is: Does the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) represent a regional alliance or a confederation’? However, if this council can be seen as just an alliance, it is not logical that all members of any alliance agree one hundred percent on all issues, because the reality shows that the member countries are in full agreement only on specific issues.

“But, if the GCC constitutes a state of confederation, then the members should be subjected to a unified foreign policy. So as long as the GCC is not seen as a confederation, it mostly represents a regional alliance, then we suggest it would have been better for the member States to threaten Qatar with the suspension of its membership from the GCC instead of what action the member states have taken now.

“As a matter of fact, what is currently taking place on the ground, constitutes a threat against the strength and robustness of the Gulf Cooperation Council as a regional organization, given the fact the foundation of this council was based on a Kuwaiti idea under the supervision of Bu Nasser, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad during its implementation.”

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Al-Shrai’aan

“The disaster which has befallen on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar, may be the start of a new breakthrough after all the differences -- God willing -- and the return of the Gulf relations to its proper course,” columnist Abdurrahman Al-Awwad wrote for Al-Sabah daily Wednesday.

“In other words, immediately following the eruption of the crisis in question, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, paid a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to employ his good offices and wisdom to resolve this crisis between brothers.

“The rapid move by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad reflected the Qatari position and this was evident through the statement which has been issued by the Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani who announced that Doha is ready to accept mediation efforts to ease the tension – God willing -- is a first step to ease tension between the two brothers.

“The role played by His Highness the Amir is a role that confirms His Highness’s continuous quest for peace, security and love between the Gulf countries, represented by the GCC member states, and the gulf reunion, based on the wisdom of His Highness and his experience and his honorable record in the diplomatic work.

“Finally, we can only pray to God Almighty in this blessed holy month to protect our Gulf, our leaders, our countries and our peoples from all evil.”

“Kuwaiti companies and institutions, and possibly many developing States, have a wrong impression that the Human Resources Department is independent,” Ali Al-Bedah wrote for Al-Jarida daily.

“It used to be the Employee Affairs Sector before transforming into the Human Resources Department. It is responsible for all activities related to employment, training, promotion, performance evaluation, querying and retrenchment of employees. It serves as an eye for higher authorities in implementing regulations, procedures related to employees and their relations with the company such that the department is the most feared by managers and employees in various offices.

“The world has changed along with responsibilities of the Human Resources Department in advanced countries where they are blessed with advanced systems. Those departments are no longer the police, prosecutors and judges in all cases affecting employees. Their responsibilities changed several years ago and officials in charge of them are aware of the rate of change.”

“It is not an exaggeration if we say the political corruption in Kuwait has reached a level where no reform or any paradigm shift will be enough to lift this country from the quagmire of corruption,” Prof Mohammad Abdulmohsen Al-Maqate wrote for Al-Qabas daily.

“Corruption happens with the blessing and participation of some in the executive authority, thereby crippling the abilities of the state and its future.

“They have been blinded by their interests and their cheap political ambitions from seeing the interests of the country. They have broken the oath of office and have lost their credibility.

“We have been plagued by the 2013 Parliament with members, some of who have taken the initiative for corruption by sponsoring and earning money from it. They have been contaminated by some who we thought they were not, and by personalities who believed that they had the nation at heart, or by the movement we thought was patriotic.”

“Many countries across the world have understanding of unity and confederacy, especially countries within the Arab World. It is unfortunate the experience has not been recognized as successful,” Mishref Eqab wrote for Al-Shahed daily.

“The talk about unity and confederacy of GCC countries in the era of multiplicity, openness, freedom, transparency and mutual interests is significant to development in view of the fact that the Gulf countries possess huge capabilities and engage in global affairs. Series of unions and confederacy that took place in the Arab World failed woefully due to lack of thorough study before embarking on it.

“The union normally happens among citizens rather than governments. After Britain exited the European Union, the situation raised sensitive questions among European nations. Europe started with six nations in 1951 and later improved to 27. It now comprises of twenty republican nations, six monarchies, and a country ruled by the Great Duke. Croatia was the last nation to join the union on July 1, 2013.”

“Some terrorist organizations have begun intensive recruitment of sympathizers on social media through video games at different social networking sites,” columnist Dr Khalid Ayed Ajenfawi wrote for AlSeyassah daily.

“There’s need to study the mode of persuasion used by criminal organizations in recruiting sympathizers via the Internet and have precise knowledge of the nature of terror language used by terrorists in general. This could be the starting point of eradicating terrorism.

“Many terrorist groups for instance target certain age groups and youth that experience marginalization due to poverty, compulsive social isolation or religious and racial discrimination in their societies. The doctrinaire usually takes advantage of all modes of persuasion to draw supporters who are reluctant or hesitant at first to join the terrorist organization, and lure them with attractive packages.

“According to sources, some terrorist organizations utilize verbal communication in the internet video games to recruit sympathizers, especially the young ones. They focus on expressions or terms such as passing all phases of the game to attain electronic conquest.”

“It is unfair to claim that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has not changed life in the Gulf or make it less difficult than before. It has made life easier for the people in terms of social and economic aspects like facilitating marriages, freedom of movement, work, residence and business,” Hesham Al-Diwan wrote for Al-Shahed daily.

“Many, if not most, laws have been reviewed to serve the citizens, security, and interests of the GCC states. However, it is difficult to state that benefits have decreased and problems have increased. It is unfair to claim that the movement of citizens, capital, living conditions, and educational and health services were better before compared to now.

“Almost 36 years after its establishment, the GCC, which was the brainchild of Kuwait, has achieved in all the six member states aspects that could not be achieved for over three or four centuries. It has joint projects based on a policy that is almost similar policy with same ambitions, and open markets for all citizens of the six member states. There is security and stability as well as many unified systems in many areas. I think the GCC is in a better position now than any time in history despite the frequent challenges.”

“For the second time, Kuwait has been elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the year 2018/2019. The first time was almost 40 years ago,” Prof Ghanim Al-Najjar wrote for Aljarida daily.

“After Kuwait achieved independence on June 19, 1961, it requested membership in the United Nations, starting with the Security Council. However, the request was refused two times because of the Soviet Union’s veto and pressures imposed by Abdulkareem Qasem who had declared his rejection of the independence of Kuwait as he considered it as a part of Basra.

“Soon after in 1963, a coup broke out in Iraq during which Qasem was executed. The relations between Kuwait and Iraq were then restored. For the third time, Kuwait requested to join the United Nations. This time, the request was approved and it was the then foreign minister His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who represented Kuwait. Since then, Kuwait has been an active member of the United Nations and was a part of the NonAligned Movement. Unlike many Arab countries, Kuwait has always been keen on developing its relations with most countries around the world including socialist countries. While some Gulf countries prevented their citizens from visiting socialist countries, Kuwait did not do so; it even encouraged Kuwaiti students to complete their studies in the Soviet Union.

“That was the first main station for Kuwait and the United Nations. The second station was on August 1990 when the Security Council reacted to the Kuwaiti issue in terms of the Iraqi invasion. The Security Council had issued a strong call to Iraqi to withdraw from Kuwait. Eventually, the Operation Desert Storm was launched for liberating Kuwait, based on the decisions of the United Nations, unlike the American invasion of Iraq in 2003 which was not based on any international decision.

“The liberation of Kuwait represented a balance between right and power, which is rarely seen in history.

“It is worth mentioning that these details will help in understanding the complex relations between Kuwait and the Security Council. Kuwait deserved to be voted as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. All Arab countries voted for Kuwait. A number of them exerted efforts to ensure support of many foreign countries in electing Kuwait.”

— Compiled by Zaki Taleb