‘Talk to end regional crises’
‘Sectarianism real threat’
“IN THE year 1975, with the aim of suppressing the armed conflict of the Kurds, which was supported by the then Shah of Iran, Iraq signed the Algiers agreement with Iran,” columnist Suad Fahd
Al-Moajel wrote for Al-Qabas daily. “Based on this agreement, the two parties agreed on the ‘Al-Qaar Line Point’ as a border between the two countries but Saddam Hussein abolished this agreement in 1980, and one of the most prominent associations of the abolition of that agreement was the First Gulf War between Iran and Iraq, which cost the region exorbitant losses in terms of money, environment and human beings.
“In this context, I would like to refer to the resignation of the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri from the Saudi capital Al-Riyadh and his attack on Iran and Hezbollah, may have many implications other than that of the resignation.
“I do not say here that it is similar to Saddam Hussein’s dismemberment of the Algiers agreement, rather I would like to say that this resignation has its own symbol and the latter is likely to have been understood by all struggling parties in the region.
“In this context I would like to mention the tweet of the head of the Lebanese Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblatt on his Twitter page, referred to what he sees as the only solution to all the region’s wars and crises.
“As for Jumblatt, he says frankly that ‘Lebanon is more than small and weak to bear the economic and political burden that is likely to emerge from this resignation.
“He went on to say, ‘I was and will remain a proponent of the dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran’ (the tweet ended).
“It is needless to say that Jumblatt tweet in question, shortens the roads towards the key of getting rid of the crises that currently faces the region.
“In other words, without dialogue between the major players, the region shall continue to suffer from tensions and wars and the dark future that shall witness the collapse of some prominent regional powers such as Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
“Moreover, Libya has been torn apart, while some Arab countries such as Egypt, the Sudan and Jordan are knee deep in foreign debts and economic crises, while horrible cracks have appeared in the walls of the ‘Gulf House’. And a future that puts an end to these collapses and sets better scenarios for this volatile region.
“We in the Middle East have two options: either a Middle East based on integrative reformist policies or models of complete or even consensual democracies, civil institutions, shared economies, fruitful intellectual, commercial, economic and cultural exchanges based on free and transparent competition, or a sectarian Middle East, suffering from wars, fragmentation and the depletion of wealth in the wrong ways.
“However, we do not want to be pessimistic. We say that the complexities of the current scene favor the second option, the sectarian Middle East.
“We say this because we are still attaching hopes to the tables of dialogue, not just one table. All the conflicting regional parties should bring together a rational formula to save what can be salvaged from the Middle East.”
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“Two days ago, Turkey declared the issue of inflation is currently under control,” columnist Dr
Humoud Al-Hattab wrote for Al-Seyassah daily. “However, I think the reason behind this development can be attributed to the balanced financial policy followed by Turkey. In this context, we would like to point out that Turkey suffered from economic inflation during the past three decades of the past century.
“But at the outset of 2000 this inflation retreated to only a single digit, while the commodities index reached to 8.17 percent in 2014 and 8.81 percent in 2015.
“With regard to the Turkish touristic sector, we can talk much, because tourism in Turkey is not just a secondary passage as like many countries of the world, rather Turkey has been transformed into a touristic center not for one time tourists, but Ankara is currently attracting millions of ordinary tourists who enjoy a significant economic position and tourists pay multiple visits to Turkey during a year and under all climatic conditions and atmospheres.
“In other words, Turkey has been transformed into an international significant, historical, cultural, religious, sporting, entertainment and health tourism centre, given the fact each one of these touristic aspects enjoy persistent and fostering concern by the tourists themselves.
“This was evident through robust infrastructures that have been carried out by Turkey in the form of development, renewal, flexibility and variety.
“With regard to prices, we would like to point tourism in Turkey is cheap and competitive and all touristic centers are modern and capable of keeping abreast with the international centers in terms of quality, service, security and safety.
“Speaking of the air services, it is needless to say both the State-run and non-government Turkish airlines occupy a distinguished position at global level. The Turkish airports have been internationally classified as one of the best in the world.
“Not just that, these airports and airlines are steadily developing and this is applicable to the touristic sector to such an extent, we suggest writing on the Turkish airlines and touristic services need volumes to contain.
“In this context, I recall I once suggesting about creating another tourism in Turkey to be called ‘Tourism of Caves’, because during my visit to Turkey this year, I saw a very thrilling and wonderful cave.
“Last, but not the least, I would like to say here the Turkish financial reserves have steadily increased over the past ten years and the Turkish reserves in the country’s central bank is $111 billion as of January 2016.”
“It’s the responsibility of every segment of the society to ensure national unity for the reason that harmony alone can bring about stability and security, as well as economic, social and political renaissance,” Rabea Salman Al-Shammari wrote for
Al-Kuwaitiya daily. “Unity means agreement among individuals within the same group and working in solidarity to guarantee precedence of national interests above personal interests.
“The phrase national interest is derived from nation, which shows that each and every segment of society has its root in the same nationality, and owes the nation loyalty, identity and love. These words are interwoven to create a major pillar for nation building as suggested in previous studies, articles and researches. The national unity is also a major pillar, mainframe and element bringing together the people of the same nation through love and identity.”
“Some people believe that Israel is the main backer and source of strength for Iran and Hezbollah in view of the manner in which they fraternize with the Zionists openly. This is contrary to logic and right thinking, especially as Israel knows Iran to be its bitterest enemy since the beginning of the revolution of Imam Al-Khomeini in 1979” Dr
Abdul-Hadi Abdul-Hamid Al-Saleh wrote for AlAnba daily. “Iranians are actively consolidating the rate of hostility against Israel worldwide, and promote armed and political resistance against the entity.
“The Lebanese Hezbollah group, Hamas and their Jihadi wings are among the worst enemies of Israel and the latter will never try to engage them in arms struggle. How do we envision Israel volunteering to protect us! Why the pitiful detachment from teachings of the Holy Qu’ran and traditions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)?”
“It seems the issue of traffic jam will remain permanent, if not more, unless a logical solution easy to implement is proffered without necessarily constructing new roads and bridges,” Iqbal Al-Ahmad wrote for Al-Qabas daily.
“Constructing new roads and bridges require the closure of roads and diversion of lanes, which lead to further congestion. In many advanced countries, the solution to such problems is implemented easily in a way that allows for free flow of traffic without the state incurring extra costs or creating additional traffic congestion. This could be done by changing the working hours of government employees with a minimum of two shifts.
“A reader made a suggestion and I share his sentiment totally. He suggested dividing employees into two categories. The first category includes employees who take their children to school. They should be allowed to report for duty from 7:30 am until 1:15 pm to be able to drop their wards to school and pick them later in the day.
“The second category involves youth who do not have children. He suggested this category should be allowed to work from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm when students may have returned home with their families and the road is less busy. The timing will not be mandatory since each employee will be allowed to make a choice.”
“The subject of black magic and sorcery took a deep dimension in our societies because the phenomenon has spread among the people,” columnist Attorney Dr Fahad Marzouk Al-Enezi wrote for Al-Kuwaitiyya daily.
“Some are taking advantage of such issues to carry out fraudulent acts, swindling and blackmailing. They use these methods to lure victims, especially since many of these acts are carried under the pretext of recovery through folk medicine including the possibility of acquiring miraculous abilities such as delaying marriage, sterility and divorce.
“By reviewing criminal laws and penalties in various countries, we will discover that some regimes do not criminalize the use of magic as they consider it permissible like in India, Burma, Thailand and some African countries.
“On the other hand, some regimes have been trying to take measures against these practices. For example, a proposal has been presented in Kuwait and Bahrain to add new articles to their criminal laws in a bid to criminalize the use of magic and sorcery, as well as taking deterrent measures to prevent such crimes.”
“I have not seen any group that dwells on lies like terrorist groups that have made it a habit for over eighty years to start rumor and mastering the art of lie and falsehood,” Abdul-Aziz Al-Tamimi wrote for Al-Shahed daily.
“They are in the habit of attaching things to people wrongly and follow their leaders with unfounded imaginations without any connection to religion. You may hear some of them defending the groups and creating the impression that some groups are on the right path while others are not. The best example of the issue under discussion is the incessant rumors about supporting acts if violent and attacks in all directions starting from Gaza to Istanbul through the Gulf and Arabian Maghreb.
“They always claim to be victorious or rendered other powerless but in reality they are in trouble based on suspicion of cooperating with personalities to incite violence and fund terrorism. They have developed the idea of involving external elements in our nationalism, tradition and Gulf harmony.”