Fill the power vacuum in the region, Urges Gul

Manama

Former President of Turkey Abdullah Gul has urged the world powers to fill the power vacuum in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen on a priority basis, otherwise, proxy wars will inevitably continue on a sectarian and ethnic basis extending farther afield.

He was speaking at a conference on ‘the prospects of Peace in the Region and ways to achieve it’, held at the IPI MENA office here in Manama. Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa was also present at the programme. A large number of diplomats, ambassadors, parliamentarians, media men and other dignitaries took part in the event.

He said that the current power vacuums and chaos in these countries are essentially results of serious political mistakes, miscalculations, delusions and blunders.

He also urged those who are dealing with these countries should not repeat the same mistakes once committed in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I also want to urge them to consider the political transition and exit strategies ‘now’,” he added.

Gul said that the countries in question are not like the defeated states of post-war periods so we cannot impose monolithic solutions on them. On the other hand the countries of the region should come together around a joint agenda similar to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The former president said that it might seem premature and impractical in the current circumstances but they should not forget that the United Nations was formed during the Second World War and OSCE during the Cold War.

“I hope that this agreement can lead Iran to be motivated about establishing more constructive relations with their neighbours based on confidence,” he said.

A new push for the resumption of the talks between Israel and Palestine and progress in the settlement of this core issue would be another milestone for a wider cooperation in the region.

Speaking about terrorist organisations like Daesh, using the local term for Islamic State, the Former Turkish President said that using hard power to get rid of the terrorists was an absolute necessity but the ultimate solution lied in patient and inclusive political settlements that would help convince the local people and leaders.

“25 years have passed since the Middle East Conference in Madrid. 14 years have passed since Taliban was removed from Kabul. 12 years have passed since Saddam Hussein was defeated in Iraq. Yet, things haven’t got any better,” he said. 

Gul said that they continued to be facing serious issues like the chaos in certain Arab and African countries, migration and refugee issues, terrorism and violence, ethnic, sectarian and religious tensions and social-economic crises are having serious spillover effects all around.

On the other hand, the conflict in Ukraine, financial crisis in Europe and its sociocultural effects are also affecting the Middle East indirectly and vice versa.