Russia Missing in Qatar
// 8th Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade was held in Doha, with Russia’s delegates missing
Yesterday an international conference on global stability, security and development finished in Doha. The forum in Qatar’s capital convened the top politicians of the leading states of the region, high-ranking UN and European Parliament officials, an unprecedented number of acting and former politicians from all over the world, diplomats, experts and journalists. Russia was the only power missing at the forum. Kommersant correspondent Sergey Strokan reports from Doha.
The current Doha conference, held annually on the initiative of Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, has been the most representative since the first one held 2001. His Majesty the Emir, the molder of the “Middle East Davos”, and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani opened the forum. Those delivering their speeches to the more than 500 delegates included Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the UN General Assembly Dr. Srgjan Kerim, President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering, leader of French socialists Ségolène Royal, and U.S. ex-Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen. The forum was also attended by France’s ex-Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, the Netherlands’ ex-Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers, Britain’s ex-Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkin, and Hungarian ex-Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The arrival of the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Office Chief, Tzipi Livni, caused a major sensation, since it’s the first time in history that such a high-ranking Israeli official visits the Persian Gulf (it need be added that the “Gulf” monarchies, as well as the rest of the Arab world, except for Egypt and Jordan, have no diplomatic relations with Israel). October, 2006 Ms Livni refused to come to the Qatar conference as she learned that the representatives of Hamas, Palestinian radical movement, would participate in the conference. But the backstage efforts of Qatar’s diplomats, who have cherished the hope of making a breakthrough in the Arab-Israeli peace process, have not been in vain – this time Ms Livni agreed to go to Doha. Even so, her presence at the conference ensued the cancel of the visits of Iran’s former President Mohammad Khatami, Chairman of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri and several Arab and Muslim politicians, who have boycotted the present summit because of the participation of the Israeli representatives in it.
“I accepted Qatar’s invitation in a spirit of friendship and mutual respect. My gesture is symbolic. I extend my hand to other Arab countries too,” Ms Livni defined the aim of her visit to Doha. The half-an-hour address of Ms Livni, which she read with emotions she couldn’t hide, became a new policy outline of the Israeli government regarding its relations with the Arab states. “Wouldn’t you agree with me that we, speaking about democracy and development in this hall today, have mutual values and goals? The only issue giving rise to conflict between us is the way we can handle extremists,” Ms Livni appealed to the audience.
The major point of her speech added up to the assumption that the conflict between moderates and extremists was a new Middle East challenge. In Ms Livni’s view, one can and should conduct dialogue with moderate Arabs, denying the extremists the ability to dictate the agenda. The fact that extremists may enter the democratic process via elections can’t change the attitude towards them. This is how the Israeli official explained her stand: “It is the full right of democracies to defend themselves from those who wish to exploit the system in order to reach a position of power, and then abuse that power to enforce their radical ideology and disregard the values of democracy.” “No true democracy on earth allows armed militia, or groups with racist or violent agendas, to participate in elections. I call the international community to adopt a universal set of standards for participation in democratic elections. The choice should be made before elections take place – terror or politics – but not political terrorism.”
Tzipi Livni’s speech was not equally welcomed by everyone: applause alternated with disapproving buzz, and some of those present rose and stalked out of the hall. The climax was reached during a discussion following Ms Livni’s address. “According to your terminology, I am a moderate Arab,” one of the delegates said to the speaker, “I then have a question to ask: After the Second World War the best Jewish lawyers drafted the best international laws, including those that concern democracy and human rights. To what extent are you committed to the principles of the Jewish lawyers, especially when it comes to collective punishment and collective deportation?” Ms Livni had no difficulty striking back. She explained that first, no one intends to punish civilians when countering terrorism, though collateral damage is to be taken into consideration; second, those arrested get imprisoned under the verdicts of Israeli courts, respected in the whole world. After it, another attack followed. “I am member of the Israeli Knesset, Arab by origin. Listen, there are three types of democracy in Israel: a true one for Jews; democracy, or the lack of it, for non-Jews; and apartheid in the Palestinian territories,” said the member of the Israeli Parliament. “I think this remark is a good example of the Israeli democracy. Isn’t the fact that such a person like you was elected member of the Knesset, the manifestation of democracy?” Ms Livni retorted. But the audience wouldn’t come down. Another delegate cited Indira Gandhi’s words, “To defeat terrorism, you must curb hatred.” “And have you curbed hatred?” the delegate asked the speaker. At that moment Tzipi Livni, who had been trying to pull herself together, burst out, “What hatred are you talking about? Go to Israeli and Palestinian kindergartens to compare children’s books there, read what’s printed there and then ask about hatred!”
American Congressmen Joseph Kennedy and William Delahunt of the Democratic party came to the rescue of Tzipi Livni. “I understand that, as Arabs, you can’t help pouring scorn on Ms Livni, but you should make an attempt at least!” appealed Mr Kennedy to the audience, “The lion’s share of terrorist attacks occur as a result of the Arab struggle. This is reality.” “We are here to help you establish dialogue. And, believe me, the dialogue between cultures and peoples is possible everywhere. I personally, as Democratic superdelegate, will vote at the August caucus for a man whose name is Barack Hussein Obama!” triumphantly announced Senator Delahunt. And the message reached its goal – the row stopped, and the red in the face but smiling Ms Livni, surrounded by her numerous bodyguards, left the hall of the luxurious “Sheraton” hotel, where the discussion took place.
“This speech can’t be called a failure. It’s important that she came here, and inviting her, the Qatari government did something other governments would never dare. More to the point, she made delegates of those states which have no diplomatic relations with Israel applause,” Eugene Rogan, Director of the Middle East Centre, Oxford, told Kommersant. “You can’t change the sentiments like those overnight. Obviously, it will take time,” added Alon Ben-Meir, Professor of International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies at The New School and at New York University, author of research works on the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
During the three-day conference the Middle East conflict settlement issue was frequently bought up in many aspects. It is noteworthy that in the course of long discussions the conferees barely touched upon Russia’s role in the Middle East peace process. In particular, they didn’t tackle the Russian initiative on holding a new peace conference in Moscow, which has been fostered by Russia’s diplomats.
From the outset Igor Ivanov, Russian ex-Foreign Minister and ex-Secretary of the Security Council, was expected to take part in the Doha conference on the part of Russia. Even a seat was prepared for him in the presidium, between President of the UN General Assembly Dr. Srgjan Kerim, and leader of French socialists Ségolène Royal, at the opening ceremonies. But Mr Ivanov, announced by Rizwan Khan, the anchorman, wouldn’t appear in the hall, leaving his seat empty. Neither the organizers, nor the staff of Russia’s embassy in Doha could explain why he was absent. Mr Ivanov cleared it all up yesterday during his telephone talk with Kommersant correspondent, explaining that the mess might have been caused through misunderstanding. According to Mr Ivanov, he received an invitation from the forum organizers, but as far back as last year sent a message to them, reading that he would not be able to come to Doha in April due to the commitments he had made earlier. But for some reason, the organizers failed to get that information.
The absence of Russia’s delegates was discussed in the lobby, nonetheless. Answering Kommersant correspondent’s question, why no one said anything about Moscow’s recent initiatives, U.S. ex-Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen retorted, “Can you see any Russian delegates here?” According to Mr Cohen, “Russians should have come to Doha in order to bring about the concept of holding a Middle East peace conference in Moscow.” “In Munich President Putin outlined Russia’s agenda regarding international security. As to the Middle East peace process, I presume that the Russian delegation could have acted similarly. I guess the Russians were invited,” underscored the former head of the Pentagon.
“We endorse the concept of a Middle East peace conference in Moscow and are eager to take part in it. But announcing the idea is not enough for Russia to return to the Middle East,” stated Muhammad Alhabash, a Syrian parliament member and Director of the Islamic Studies Center, Damascus. He deems that under the present circumstances, Russia must outline its stand toward the U.S. position, since Russia’s role is not that evident. So far Moscow only reacts to America’s moves, either approving of them or countering them unofficially, without having its own opinion. Kommersant correspondent could hardly disagree.
Sergey Strokan
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 17, 2008
|
