‘Soften policies to be regional power’
“IF THE Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries want to become an effective regional power, they must review their foreign policy and their relations among themselves and their relations with all Arab countries, the citizens of the Gulf and the Arabs,” columnist Mustafa Al-Sarraf wrote for Al-Qabas daily.
“This should happen before they cement their relations with foreign countries, because it will be difficult for the GCC to become an effective regional power and be recognized as such by the Arab countries and great powers. This cannot happen unless they follow an amicable policy with the Arab countries in general and the countries in the Gulf region in particular.
“As a matter of fact, the Gulf Cooperation Council should have worked from the very beginning of its foundation to become an Arab regional power to fill the vacuum created by the Arab Republic of Egyptian because of its financial power and forced its way to affect the resolutions adopted by the Arab League (AL).
“However, in order to go ahead and eventually maintain its Arab role as an effective power, the GCC should follow a policy of friendly ties with all Arab countries and not depending only on its financial power, because this power alone will not help the GCC become an effective Arab power.
“In this context, we say most GCC member states are currently at loggerheads with Syria although Damascus is a significant Arab country and the same is also applicable to Iraq which is also a big country and enjoys a special position in the region.
“Another example is of Algeria and its distinguished position in North Africa which cannot be affected by the financial power of the Gulf countries in addition to Yemen.
“The attitude of the GCC countries towards these countries which play an effective role among the Arabs in view of their historical depth and heritage of civilization the GCC cannot ignore the position of these countries while expecting to become a regional power and represent the entire Arab region.
“In other words, if the GCC becomes an effective regional power it should build good relations with all Arab countries as well as with other countries in the Middle East region such as Turkey and Iran based on cooperation and reciprocal respect and not otherwise.
“In this connection we say the policy of convulsion and tension is something of the past and no longer valid, because such policy has never played any positive role in the realm of the global policy, particularly if such policy is adopted by the GCC.
“In this context, we elucidate the GCC must look at itself as if it is in its infancy and that we the people of the Gulf have no historical heritage that has played an effective role in the Arab culture such as the role that has been played by Iraq, Syria, Algeria and Yemen, for instance. We know these countries are indeed valuable players in politics.
“Meanwhile, we have observed how the financial weight of the Arabs has started steadily retreating because we in the Gulf are in the habit of exaggerating and using the money power to dominate others and this has resulted in them denouncing our policy.
“This is because the ‘others’ look at such policy as a kind of humiliation and we want to dominate them. In other words, it looks like the policy in question has actually awakened the deep-rooted civilized sense of these people.
“It is needless to say we in the Gulf have all the potential to become an effective regional power if we come to realize the above and start dealing with all Arabs on the basis of amicable relations and reciprocal respect, but not on any other basis.”
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“As a matter of fact the silent majority represents most Kuwaitis,” columnist Jassem Mohammad Kamal wrote for Annahar daily.
“This silent majority doesn’t belong to any specific religious current, sectarian gathering or political party although their contribution is significant when it comes to electing representatives to the National Assembly through free elections in their belief that the people who they elect are the best to represent them in Parliament.
“However, these elected MPs enjoy the necessary parliamentary immunity, social prestige and so on, but the sole losers are the Kuwaitis who belong to this silent majority.
“But the MPs and people close to them don’t lose anything to the contrary they gain much irrespective whether they oppose or support the government. “In other words these MPs and their supporters, their families and the tribes and even their secretaries gain much.
“The same is applicable to the ‘esquire’ ministers, but the method is different because the ministers show bias to those who helped them get the minister’s chair. Hence, we see one minister from the religious current, another liberal, yet another from a ‘blue-blooded’ family, a sectarian and a tribal.
“But the question is where the role of the silent majority in the National Assembly is and what role does this silent majority play in the government?
“Certainly, there is no role for the silent majority either in the National Assembly or in the government, because both the MPs and the ministers believe their performance is excellent and are of the opinion that the silent majority is satisfied of their performance, but this belief is wrong, because we as citizens are fed up of the boring and negative behavior of the MPs who are striving to serve their own interests or the interests of their currents, while others are striving to settle some accounts with the others.
“In spite of the above, I would like to ask a question to the silent majority — the majority to which I also belong. If you have any ambition to serve your homeland by occupying some leading posts then you have to opt for the magic prescription and say no to the scientific and efficient methods and say yes to wasta and favoritism or join a partisan or non-official current.”
“The historic visit by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to the United States of America is of great importance if we consider the current political developments in the Gulf region as well as in Arab and international political arenas,” Nasser Khamees Al-Mutairi wrote for Al-Nahar daily.
“It is a visit that affirms the presence of Kuwait and its interaction with events in the international arena especially in the Gulf region. The most anticipated talking point in the Kuwait-US summit is to explore and find a way to solve the Qatar-GCC crisis after some GCC countries and Egypt severed relations with Qatar. The visit of His Highness the Amir comes at a time when the crisis has entered its third month without detente.
“I think Kuwait, through its strong strategic ties with Washington, will seek to give new force to Kuwaiti mediation efforts for solving the crisis. His Highness the Amir is keen to ensure the crisis is solved, while, at the same time, making sure the entity of the Gulf Cooperation Council remains intact before the GCC Summit in December.”
“Tourism has become an integral part of the economic development vision of countries in the Arab Gulf, and we have witnessed real instances of economic development in some neighboring countries through the promotion of tourism,” columnist Dr Hind Al-Shomar wrote for Al-Anba daily.
“To promote tourism, some neighboring countries have set up national programs and strategies to benefit from existing tourist attractions, in terms of archeological sites, antiques and seasonal festivals such as summer festivals the State of Qatar and United Arab Emirates hold, in addition to Salalah Festival in autumn.
“Tourism could play an important role in Kuwait if clear strategy and vision is put in place alongside the principles of economic development for diversification of income. Tourism can be successful as long as the country possesses suitable infrastructure and marketing ability.”