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Abdullah Al Thani: Solution from within Qatar | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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King Salman and Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali bin Jassem Al Thani (SPA)


Qatar’s Foreign Minister travelled all the way to the Norwegian capital Oslo this time to complain about Saudi Arabia and the boycotting countries and find a supporter for his country during its long-forgotten crisis.

However, the issue posed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman is pilgrimage of Qatari nationals.

So, yes! The Qatar minister found no other than this Scandinavian country to complain to about Hajj issue, even though there is no issue to begin with.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz welcomed the Qatari pilgrims and offered to send private planes to get them directly from Doha to Makkah, despite the ongoing severance between the quartet and Doha.

Head of Qatar’s diplomacy reached an unprecedented level this time by saying that banning Qatari pilgrims from entering Saudi Arabia was politically motivated, and then allowing them was also politically motivated. This diplomatic statement sums up the Qatari political confusion.

Qatar’s accusations are always available whether its citizens went to Hajj or not. Either ways, claims that Saudi Arabia is politicizing Hajj season will not stop.

If only the Qatari Minister would explain to us, from Finland this time, how the King of Saudi Arabia’s hosting of his country’s pilgrims has political motivations, if banning them was also politically driven? The only answer to that question is that all of a sudden, Qatar’s diplomacy has new political powers involved.

Riyadh welcomed brother of ruler and founder of modern Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani. It also agreed to permit Qatari pilgrims to enter to the kingdom through Salwa border crossing and even authorized all Qatari nationals wanting to perform Hajj to enter without electronic permits.

After all of that, Doha has found itself in trouble before its citizens and the world capitals where many officials lodged their complaints.

Qatar no longer has the excuse to ban its citizens from performing Hajj like it tried before, and now its officials are confused and anxious.

In Jeddah, the top official of the ruling family met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and then travelled to Tangier, Morocco, to meet with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

King Salman received Sheikh Abdullah and stressed the Kingdom’s keenness and constant and continuous interest in the welfare of the pilgrims while harnessing all possibilities to carry out their affairs with ease and comfort.

Sheikh Abdullah proceeded with his attempts to achieve what the Qatari diplomacy couldn’t do in 75 days. With Saudi Arabia welcoming those efforts and responding to this mediation, the resounding message reached Doha that this step has effects on political, popular and social levels.

Qatar is taken by surprise by the grand involvement of a powerful political party in this crisis and this surely has the doors wide opened on future revelations within the Qatari house.

Doha received a new blow involving one of the prominent members of the ruling family who mediated and paved the way for a new political track looking to achieve his country’s best interest that has long been damaged by the current reckless leadership.

Sheikh Abdullah didn’t bother himself by travelling to Moscow, Washington, or London. He didn’t go to Oslo either to politicize a pure religious ritual. He took the shortcut and visited the closest country to his: Saudi Arabia.

The Shiekh succeeded in finding the solution.

Indeed, no matter how far the travels may reach, there is no escape from visiting Riyadh.

In his new book “World Order”, Henry Kissinger says: “Sooner or later, history punishes strategic frivolity. In every era, humanity produces abusers and evil ideas. Political wisdom lies in preventing their rise to positions of power and maintain a qualified international order capable of deterring them.”

The words of the “fox” of US policy can be exactly applied to Doha’s policy. After almost two and a half months of cut-off ties crisis, Qatar’s reactions prove the validity of positions taken against it. Whoever doubted those decisions, has now become convinced of this move because of Qatar’s reckless policy.

The sure thing is the success of Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani’s mediation had shaken the Qatari state and added more pressures. Doha doesn’t know where the winds will blow in the coming days.