HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari may have lost the battle, but he has helped Qatar win the war in the comity of nations by establishing itself as an alternative regional power, a dignified power that respects democratic practices and traditions and has the wherewithal to lead and sustain a campaign.
Commenting on results of Unesco’s election, “Diplomatic Square”, an Indian news website, further wrote that Qatar is power packed literally and metaphorically – with its gas reserves and oil, Qatar may possibly emerge the new global pivot for shipping and air travel and also a model country for development and tourism.
According to Diplomatic Square, Long last the result is out – France is the winner with 30 votes while Qatar garnered 28 votes. It was a well contested election, at times bitterly fought and now with the result being declared, the Qatari nominee – Hamad Al-Kawari immediately congratulated the French candidate, Audrey Azoulay, as she goes on to occupy the august office of Director General, UNESCO.
Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a congratulatory message to the French President Emmanuel Macron bringing to a closure a democratic election amidst turbulent times with the United States and Israel sadly pulling out of the UN organization.
The present election marked a new high and a new low in elections being contested at international level. Plenty of squabbling was reported with one contesting country being accused of alleged undiplomatic behaviour. Countries brought into open, though tacitly, their bilateral disputes into this international forum.
Qatar demonstrated its maturity by not resorting to such allegations and accusations and in the finest democratic tradition, accepted the verdict with all humility – Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari pledging his full support to Unesco in pursuance of its mission. One hopes that Unesco will become inclusive and work towards a new world order that would accept history, plurality and diversity.
Director-General-elect Audrey Azoulay has now the onerous obligation of protecting the world heritage centres that are increasingly being threatened by the very forces that created and nourished the ISIS, Al Qaida and Taliban – the multi-headed demons who were responsible for the destruction of Bamiyan Buddha, the Palmyra and the ancient cities of Raqqa, Alleppo and others.
Of course, the DG-elect has the many other responsibilities on hand but with US and Israel pulling out of this international forum, she may be staring down at the end of an empty financial barrel – restoring the financial health being the most challenging task. Will Qatar step in to fill the void?
Along with the restructuring of Unesco, certain punitive clauses should also be brought in. Countries that support, overtly or covertly, destructive forces like Al Qaida, ISIS and similar sinister groups must be compelled to pay huge compensation for their wanton acts of destruction.
It is no surprise that the rise of terrorism coincides with the rise in petroleum prices and from that time, the footprints of a certain Arab nation can be seen everywhere, stretching from Indonesia, Malaysia to Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, Egypt, Tunisia, Iraq, Syria and others. It has fine-tuned a strategy to change the demography, change the culture, bribe and slowly bring people, communities and entire nations under its command.
Diplomatic Square further writes: “How Qatar wants to position itself is Qatar’s prerogative but it can emerge as the new centre for medical research, from vector borne diseases to viruses that cause Ebola, Yellow Fever, Malaria, Dengue to non-vector borne virus infections like HIV, Hepatitis and others. Qatar with its financial clout can attract the best brains in the industry, and construct the finest institutions for these purposes. It can serve a very positive role in the region, be a new lighthouse of thinking, and globally dispel the darkness caused in the name of a religion.”
Truly, Qatar can become an island of Hope for entire Humanity which is screaming for succor against diseases and ailment that are presently incurable!
