THERE is no doubt that the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in the city of Al-Ula in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia turned the page of the crisis that lasted for three and a half years.
However, those with interests in the disagreement among the Gulf countries would explore their options to maintain their network of interests, either in Qatar or in the other four countries. Their main objective would now be to preserve the largest possible portion of the investment they made in the GCC crisis.
Countries, parties and groups, even businessmen and merchants, profit from the crisis. Therefore, they will not easily accept the new status quo, which includes opening of land and air borders, and the return of the flow of goods among the five countries.
This new reality would not sit comfortably with countries like Turkey and Iran, which are still working hard to prevent the development of reconciliation into natural fraternal relations like it was before the crisis.
Even the Muslim Brotherhood Group, which strives to exploit the dispute to pass more of its ideas and projects and market them in the largest possible area, will work with all its strength to accumulate its balance, and will fight with all its weapons in this regard. Because of this, the current stage is closer to the period of recuperation that the patient is going through, during which care becomes a necessity more than before.
What was achieved at the Al-Ula Summit is the rebirth of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It needs hard work so that it does not suffer a setback.
The great joy with which the GCC nationals received the reconciliation is an expression of the reality that streams in the heart of everyone in the region. Therefore it is not easy to go back, due to which this matter should be handled with extra care.
It is natural for some distinctions to occur in positions, or serious attempts to sabotage this great achievement. Here the major responsibility rests with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council. They must be very careful when dealing with these events, and must work collectively to prevent any sabotage attempts by haters.
This reconciliation can be guarded through direct contacts or bilateral meetings, or through the activation of the diplomatic safety net, in addition to increasing cooperation in the fields of politics, security and economy, exchanging goods and facilitating the movement of individuals, as the situation prior to 2017.
There is no doubt that Doha, under the leadership of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, is not what it used to be five years ago. This man is fully aware of the importance of the strategic depth of his country. He is one of the young leaders who works for the future of his country on the basis of solidarity and union of the vision between the capitals of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and does not sing out of tune.
Irrespective of the discordant voices emanating from here and there through the press and the social media platforms, which have destroyed more than what have built during the past three and a half years, this should not turn into sparks that reignite the fire of disagreement.
This reconciliation is fought against, thus, dealing with what threatens it must be based on the utmost frankness and disclosure to ensure the blossoming of the reconciliation.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
