Future of Yemeni-Gulf relations [Archives:2007/1116/Opinion]

Dr. Waheeba Fare'a

Enhancing the course of political relations between Yemen and Gulf states is not only a political requirement. Rather, it is a popular and human desire for communities where the political element and its human counterpart meet, thanks to the geographical location and the historic background that brings states of this region together and help them establish mutual interests.

If it is necessary to remind people of the significance of the joint commercial, economic, political and security relations between Yemen and other Gulf states, as well as review the common interests on every occasion, it will be more important to refer to the cultural homogeneity in countries of the region.

This homogeneity plays a great role in supporting Yemen's admission into the Gulf Cooperation Council in different spheres, including the economic one.

Components of the common human work in the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf acquires continuance, away from any temporary justifications due to the crucial importance of both the elements of history and geography, which function as the base for bilateral and innocent relationships between natives of the region.

These days, GCC member states seek to enhance its commercial and economic partnership with the Republic of Yemen and so does Yemen. They closely observe all the efforts expended by the Yemeni government to create a good investment climate to then attract more foreign investments and capitals into the vulnerable nation, particularly as the country enjoys a unique relation, diverse weather and a population density that helps provide workforce and big market. And, with the availability of natural resources, which are enough to make a distinctive move in the economic recovery and sustainable development, Yemen is by all means eligible for accession into GCC membership.

All such given facts make Yemen and other gulf states before a package of historic entitlements to achieve partnership and alliance for confirming their effective presence in the international arena in light of the rapid variables, which the world of today goes through. From an economic viewpoint, these facts depend greatly on the formation of regional alliances in confronting these challenges and opening markets for free trade, as well as limiting restrictions on trade exchange.

The historic entitlements, as seen by states of the region, are represented by fulfilling the mutual interests, which are governed by shared visions and satisfactions between two sides who possess much of the strengths in the world economic system.

These strengths help qualify the states in question for building a promising regional cartel in the shadow of an international understanding of the region's need for establishing this kind of partnership, away from politics.

From this point, the future visions of Yemeni-Gulf relations have to be represented by criteria of the economic and commercial partnership, taking into consideration other dimensions that include all the horizons of development partnership with the local private sector.

The visions should also include career development programs for human resources to help flood markets of GCC member states with skilled Yemeni workforce that automatically migrated to the Gulf States following discovery of oil and minerals in these states.

The current political developments in the region play a pivotal role in the future of Yemeni-Gulf relations on the short and long terms, bearing in mind that the region lives an exceptional condition. The situation makes Yemen's entry into GCC a strategic necessity for stability amid the current regional and international developments.

Qualifying Yemen for GCC membership is a process where security and economic dimensions meet and these dimensions are known to have been connecting Yemen with states of the Arabia because of the unique location and common interests.

But, excessive concentration on the aspects of integration is not worthy for strengthening the mutual relations.

Source: Almethaq.net
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