By Jaber Al Harami
The speech of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Sharm Al Sheikh summit was comprehensive and covered a number of challenges and issues irking the Arab Nation in this historical era.
The Emir identified challenges and problems facing the Arabs for many years and in different places in Arab countries. He raised several possible solutions to rescue the Nation and take it out of the crisis that has been there without an effective solution although they were being raised during several summits and on other occasions.
Operation Storm Resolve represents a gleam of hope in a measurable Arab situation. Because the operation aims to support the legitimacy in Yemen and end the coup of the Houthis who terrorised people and destroyed institutions of the state within a short time and took the people of Yemen hostages.
The Emir in his speech raised major Arab issues on top of the central Arab issue — the Palestine issue, the situation in Gaza strip where people have been kept under siege for around nine years. The Emir called for lifting of the Gaza siege as the people are facing unprecedented humanitarian crisis and “we should do our best to support the Palestinians and make things easier to them”. Our Arab people are no more accepting the contradictory stance when Arab states talk about justice for the Palestinian cause and injustice they are facing under the Israeli occupation and on the other hand accepting that.
The Emir’s speech aimed to remind the summit about its responsibility towards the cause of Palestine, bring it back on top of other agenda as used before, because he believes that whatever issues are raised, the Palestinian cause should remain the central Arab issue until the Palestinians achieve full rights.
The Emir also did not forget the pain and suffering of the Syrian people as their revolution entered its fifth year fighting the bloody Fascist regime that used the most horrible means to kill its people when they came out to protest peacefully to ask for their basic rights.
The Emir described the suffering of Syrians under the regime as the most horrible and unprecedented crisis in history. The regime has turned the country into moraine, displaced millions and killed more than 350,000 including children, women and elders.
Despite all crimes committed by the regime against innocent people, sometimes we hear some people talk about reconciliation with the regime and calling for peaceful solution to maintain the regime and thus they equate the killer and his victims.
The Emir was very clear about the Syrian cause and he made it clear that the regime should be excluded from any solution, because the regime rejected the Arab league initiative early during the crisis. Where the Arab league proposed a political solution in which the regime was included but instead took security measures and suppressed the peaceful demonstrators.
The Emir emphasised that it is time for Arabs to act and end the suffering of the Syrians and he said “hasn’t the time come yet to pose the question: for how long should we be waiting for foreign action in Syria? The limitation of foreign action in Syria has become crystal clear and there is no need for further speculations or analysis. So when will we, as Arabs, act to end this tragedy in coordination with whom we must coordinate”.
Regarding the situation in Yemen, the Emir made a clear statement. Operation Storm Resolve is upon request of “the legitimate Yemeni President Hadi to the GCC and Arab League to protect the people of Yemen, institutions and stability”.
The Houthis and the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh foiled serious attempts made by the GCC to bring all parties to the negotiation table and instead they committed crimes against the people and institutions. Both Houthis and Saleh emptied the national dialogue outcomes of their content. And the most dangerous thing that Houthis and the former president are doing is that they are planting sectarianism in the country which was not common in Yemen before, said the Emir.
The Emir emphasised that Houthis and the former president are responsible for the current escalation of tension in Yemen, and he called on all parties to respect the legitimacy of Yemen represented in President Hadi and his government. All parties in Yemen should reject the policy of imposing fact on the ground by force. The Emir affirmed that Qatar spared no efforts to support the legitimacy in cooperation with other brothers.
On the Libyan issue, the Emir stated that the only way to come out of the crisis and its implications is to find a political solution respecting the Libyan’s willingness and meet their aspirations for peace and stability in order to rebuild the county’s institutions with participation of all social and political segments.
The Emir emphasised that the good neighbourly relations with Iran, which is integral part of our region and our Islamic Umma, stressing that good neighbourly relations are based on respect for sovereignty of other states and non-interference in their internal affairs.
Despite pressing issues, the Emir did not forget his concerns on development and emphasised that “realising sustainable development is the key requirement for our nation to enjoy free will and freedom of decisions and development is the way to grant a decent life to our people.
The Emir was very clear in addressing all key issues he raised, far from generalising, because we are in a critical era which did bear any courtesy. It is a time to meet people’s aspirations.
Arab League, which is marking 70 years since it was set up, did not live up to Arabs’ expectations and hopes; it is high time to reform the Arab League and its organisational structure to cope with current challenges facing the Arab people. He added that it is a historical turning point which proved that no one would stand with us as Arabs unless we did not help ourselves and do what should be done.
This is the fact as our issues today seem to be scattered and our enemies are manipulating our causes because we are not united, not lining up to face our challenges and this is the reason making international powers look for their interests in other stronger regional powers.
