HH Emir of Qatar deserves Nobel Prize

Emir deserves the Nobel Peace Prize

By Sherida S J al-Kaabi/Doha

HH the Emir: peace efforts

Each year the Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Prize to geniuses who excel in various fields of science as well as to a person who has contributed extensively to the maintenance of international peace and security. US President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

In spite of my full appreciation of the large role played by President
Sherida S J al-Kaabi

Obama for America, his good intentions for the world, his political wisdom and knowledge and his good morals, he has so far achieved nothing tangible, neither for the Palestinian cause nor for Iraq or Afghanistan. In fact, we have been continuously told of his intentions but any major achievements are yet to be seen.

Looking ahead, I am convinced that HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace prize for this year.

HH the Emir, from the day he took office, has never relented in his quest to calm things down, whether at the international level or at the regional level. His attempts in many of the Palestinian and Iraqi issues, for instance, have won wide acclaim. He tried his best to prevent the Iraqi war and the risk of exposing the Iraqi people to much of scourge. Had it not been for the intransigence of the former Iraqi president Saddam Hussain at that time, maybe he could have done something to avoid the war but Saddam defied the entire world, until the war initiated by President Bush took place and now nobody knows how to end it. And Iraq, which was our scientific and cultural treasure, is in a deplorable condition.

HH the Emir’s breakthrough was in Lebanon where he managed to solve the differences among various groups in spite of the huge gaps among them, helping restore tranquility and peace enabling them to form their national governments. And here they now enjoy the grace of peace and security and are busy building their country Lebanon, the axis of culture and democracy in the Arab World.

I shall never forget HH the Emir’s noble stand during the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the destruction of its infrastructure, when he supported his brothers during and after the war and took the initiative of building the southern province.

I have been in Lebanon recently, and during a conversation with one of the Lebanese brothers, he told me: “I am from the south, and I will never forget Qatar or the Emir of Qatar, he who built our homes that were destroyed by Israel, they became even better than they were before the war. We pray and wish long life for His Highness, may God preserve him for us and for the entire Arab nation.”

When Israel attacked Gaza, His Highness had done his utmost to stop the dirty war that destroyed the land before the people. Even hospitals had not been spared from phosphoric bombs.

We all remember when he was exhausted calling others to no avail, his famous statement, “In God we depend and to him we belong”; and despite all that, he offered aid and support during and after the war. All the people of Gaza remember him for his support and generosity. They swear by his life and pray to Allah to help him in all that he envisages for the pride and dignity of his country and the Arab Nation.

History registered another breakthrough recently with the signing in Doha of an “intentions” agreement between our brothers in Sudan, in a major step to resolve the thorniest problem that was hard for many, including the UN, to solve. The UN Security Council has praised HH the Emir’s efforts to bring peace to Darfur.

Thanks to his guidance and the ability and acumen of his politicians and diplomats represented by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and HE Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, he managed to reunite brothers and put them on the right path towards a comprehensive solution to restore stability and security, so that they can build their country, bringing peace and tranquility to our beloved Sudan.

Not only did he offer them the roadmap for the agreement, but he also set up a development bank for Darfur, and has put the necessary funding and opened it to all who wanted to participate in this vital project that will reflect positively on Sudan and the people of Darfur with the proviso that they forget their differences and join hand for the renaissance of their country.

For all these reasons, I am convinced that HH the Emir deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace prize for this year and I will be the first to be surprised if it did not come his way.

In conclusion, I congratulate HH the Emir on his great achievements and wish him continued good health and happiness; may God grant him success in all that he envisages for the pride and dignity of this country which is small in size but big with his deeds. May God save him and guide his steps towards the goodness of all human beings.

**** Sherida S J al-Kaabi is a Qatari businessman and former diplomat.