Bahrain backs down over GCC nomination 31, May 2010
Posted by thegulfblog.com in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.Tags: Bahrain, Bahrain Qatar dispute, GCC Secretary General, Qatar, Saudi mediation
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Bahrain backed down and has not nominated Muhammed Al Mutawa as the new Secretary General of the GCC. Hid nomination was widely seen as one of the key precipitants of recent problems between Qatar and Bahrain. Qatar strenuously objected to the nomination of Al Mutawa as he was prominent and vocal in advancing Bahrain’s case against Qatar to the ICJ over the border dispute. Although the dispute was resolved some years ago, Qatar could not brook the idea of him as the next Secretary General.
Instead Bahrain has nominated Abdul Lateef Bin Rashid Al Zayani. This change came at the behest of Saudi King Abdullah who sought to mediate between the two countries. Given Bahrain’s political and economic position, they are in no position to refuse an request such as this from the Saudi King.
Saudis to mediate between Bahrain and Qatar 28, May 2010
Posted by thegulfblog.com in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.Tags: Bahraini fisherman captured, Destrotyed coral reef, Qatar Bahrain dispute, Saudi mediation, Saudi to mediate Qatar Bahrain dispute
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Saudi Arabia is set to mediate between Qatar and Bahrain over the Bahraini nomination for GCC Secretary General. The rotating position which is Bahrain’s to fill this time around may well be the core issue of recent Qatari Bahraini disputes. Mohammed Al Mutawa is the former Bahraini information minister. Qatar seem to have a healthy dislike of him because of his role as head of publicity in the ICJ Qatar-Bahrain border dispute.
One must wonder whether Saudi will be as subtle as the last time they mediated between Qatar and Bahrain. Then, if I am remembering my facts correctly, there was some territorial issue over a coral reef/island that was part submerged part of the time. Nevertheless, as is the way with these things, this reef assumed bizarre importance. The Saudi solution? Quite literally bulldoze the reef into the sea; destroy it…et voila…no more issue. Effective, I suppose.
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