Doha-brokered deal and implementation theories [Archives:2008/1140/Opinion]

Mahdi Mohsen Hamid
Through our pursuit of the efforts so far expended by the mediation committees and teams and what has been so far achieved in this regard, we can say that there should be serious wills to overcome any difficulties encountering implementing of the agreement.

A serious will is needed irrespective of the various obstacles that were about to foil efforts exerted by the presidential mediation committee as a result of disputes and differences originating from within the committee. Such problems and the likes were created with the malicious intention of impeding progress of the agreement and depriving the war-ravaged province (Sa'ada) of peace and stability while having a serious will and strong determination is their effective remedy.

At this point, I think that the time period spent by the Qatari mediation team leader traveling between Doha and Sana'a since the first day of March – a deadline assigned for releasing detainees jailed over alleged connections with Sa'ada fighting – has now yielded its fruitful results. Such results are represented by the Qater team leader's return to Sa'ada following a meeting with President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Hodeida, during which both officials agreed upon certain points for executing the Doha-brokered Peace Deal.

At that time, President Saleh gave directions to Commander of Northwest Military Flank Gen. Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar and Sa'ada Governor Mutahhar Rashad Al-Masri to pull troops out of the schools and mosques belonging to Zaidi people. Saleh also directed questioning any military commanders or officials intercepting commuters of these mosques and schools, which was described as 'a good addition' to the mediation efforts.

It is obvious that any direct communication in this respect is pondered upon as a distinctive turning point, as well as a good step toward removing any mystery or ambiguity that may lead to mutual misunderstanding between the conflicting sides over certain points in such peace deals. Direct communication is always an indispensable means for any mediation or peace efforts to succeed.

For the Sa'ada crisis to be resolved, the Qatari and Yemeni mediation teams still need to show further tolerance and have more patience until they get the most suitable chance to bring the conflicting sides together and convince them abide by and remain strongly committed to the peace deal's terms, one by one. Seizing the most suitable chance helps mediators avoid several mistakes, which they may otherwise make. Mediators should bear in mind that hurriedness breeds unavoidable mistakes.

Behaving this way can ensure reaching successful achievements, particularly as the issues is limited to implementing the first step of the peace deal through mutual understanding. And, any subsequent efforts will proceed spontaneously, thereby necessitating nothing more than establishing confidence and trust between both conflicting sides and assuring them that they will never be exposed to post-comprise tricks or deception.

Nothing is standing in the way of implementing the peace deal except for the fact that each party fears being exposed to tricks or deceived by the other as a result of the lack of mutual trust.

Source: Al-Ahali Weekly
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