DOHA, 13 October 2005 — Qatar, a close US ally with the world’s third-largest proven gas reserves, has become the voice of the Arabs and Asians by winning a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council.
The emirate was elected on Monday, becoming the first Gulf state to become a non-permanent member of the Security Council, representing the Asian regional group. It will take its seat on Jan. 1 for a two-year period,
“In international relations, what counts is a country’s economic and political weight, regardless of its size and population,” international relations expert Mohamad Fuad said.
Qatar’s outgoing ambassador to Washington, Badr Al-Dafeh, said: “Despite Qatar being a small country, it has succeeded to prove its influence through the wide network of international relations that it has woven for 10 years” since the Emir, Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani, came to power in 1995.
“Starting January, Qatar will be bearing a historical responsibility, as it will be representing the Asian, Arab and Islamic groups which have concerns at the core of international events,” said former Minister of Information Hamad Al-Kawari.
“This is primarily a Gulf event, as Qatar is the first Gulf state to win this seat, which proves the importance of the Gulf region for the rest of the world, in terms of economy, politics and security,” he said.
Qatar, which has hosted a series of important world conferences in a bid to put the country on the world map, is the regional base of the US Army’s Central Command, which used the Gulf outpost during the 2003 war on Iraq.
Former Qatari Justice Minister Nagib Mohammed Al-Nuaimi said Qatar’s winning a seat on the Security Council is “the logical result of its increasing role on the international scene.” He said he also hoped “Qatar would have an active role in speeding up the settlement of the Palestinian and Iraqi issues ... as well as the conflict between Iran and the United Arab Emirates” over three islands.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamad Al-Rumeihi said Qatar “will have an active role through its vote on any draft resolution, so that it is adopted or not.”
“The Arab and Asian groups will seek to cooperate with Qatar’s delegate ... at any voting operation on a vital resolution at the United Nations,” he said.
But Mohamad Al-Musfir, political science professor at Qatar University, said, “I pity Qatar for its new position at the UN Security Council because it is made up of countries under the influence of the United States.”
“Qatar will face difficulties when attempting to tackle Arab issues at the Council,” he said.
“But Qatar’s delegate could ease political and diplomatic pressures that he could face, with the backing of the (Qatari) leadership and Arab capitals,” he said.
