Sultanate is ‘Switzerland of Middle East’: Former US diplomat

WASHINGTON: Gerald M. Feierstein, former US ambassador to Yemen described the Sultanate of Oman as ‘Switzerland of the Middle East’.

He said that there is a hope that the Sultanate will continue to play a significant role in promoting peace in the region.

While participating at a seminar organised by the Washington based Middle East Institute, Feierstein said that the Sultanate appeared as a vital mediator in the recent years and that it has enhanced its qualifications at a time the turbulent Middle East needs peace makers.

“While the Middle East is becoming more turbulent, Oman fills the vacuum because its neutrality allows it to speak to all the parties. “It is not strange, therefore, for Oman to become the venue for the talks between Tehran and Washington, which preceded the conclusion of the nuclear deal,” he furthered.

Key country

He noted that the UN considered the Sultanate “a key country” in the efforts made to end the threeyear long conflict in Yemen.

Feierstein added that the Sultanate is also the place where US, Afghan, Pakistani and Chinese diplomats meet to find a common platform about the future of Afghanistan.

The Sultanate has been also one of the two states that did not sever relations with the State of Qatar. He praised the role played by the Sultanate in the release of a French hostage in 2015, two US hostages in 2016, an Australian man, an Indian catholic clergyman in 2017 and three US hostages who mistakenly crossed from Iraq in 2009.

He said this role has helped and is still helping Oman to maintain its strategic independence.

He noted Oman has a unique stance as a peacemaker in a region full of conflicts. “Oman has also been one of the three Arab League’s member countries that did not sever relations with Egypt after the Peace Treaty that was concluded with Israel in 1979,” Feierstein said.