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http://ocininitiative.maeda1.jp/0464KhashoggiCaseApr2019English.pdf
http://ocininitiative.maeda1.jp/0464KhashoggiCaseApr2019English.pdf
5.Qatar counterattacks Saudi Arabia
For Qatar, which faced difficulty in diplomacy, the Khashoggi case
was a one chance in a million. Qatar has uncovered the truth of the case one
after another through Al Jazeera TV and other government controlled media. One
of the reports, as mentioned above, was on the incineration of dead body of Mr.
Khashoggi. Qatar condemned Saudi Arabia referring to the news on its own
coverage or leaked news from the Turkish authorities and Western media like the
US Washington Post. Naturally, the Saudi media does not cover such foreign
news, nor officially publish the report related to the trial. The information
by Qatar is the best choice to follow Khashoggi case.
It could not be denied that some of the news by Qatari media might
be fake ones and some of them have malicious intention against Saudi Arabia.
Nevertheless, it is no doubt that Qatar has satisfied in a series of
revelations to counterattack Saudi Arabia and to appeal in international
society. The country is also accelerating its departure from Saudi Arabia in
other fields by leaving OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) dominated
by Saudi Arabia[2].
From now on Qatar may annoy by bringing over Oman and Kuwait which do not
necessarily keep pace with Saudi Arabia.
As same as Turkey, Qatar is enough to look at drowning Saudi
Arabia “as time goes by”.
6. What will happens in the future?
Khashoggi case would fade out day by day because politics and
diplomacy are turbulent in the Middle East. That is just as MbS wants. The
Saudi government itself is trying to make the case to be the game-over. Even
the United States, Turkey and Qatar, there will be little advantage even if the
truth is revealed. After that, each country trade the case in favor of its own
country by rattling its saber in front of Saudi government (and MbS). It would
be possible for the media or an international human rights organization to
blame the Saudi government or MbS without showing clear evidence. But such means
could not last in the political scene. The principal of justice based on freedom,
equality and human rights is not applicable for international politics and
diplomacy.
To recover the lost credit, on the other hand, MbS will make
efforts to show up his presence at international conference or develop
bilateral diplomacy with oil-poor countries. One of the bilateral diplomacy was
his recent official visits to Pakistan, India and China[3]. Regarding
the international conference the G20 Summit, of which Saudi Arabia is a member,
considered to be a place of appeal for MbS. This year's G20 Summit will be held
in Osaka, Japan and next summit will be held in Riyadh on November 21-22, 2020[4]. Saudi
Arabia is the host country of Riyadh Summit. It seems that MbS is aiming for a
complete comeback to the international arena at the Osaka Summit in June 2019.
Therefore, MbS must think that he should be introduced to the leaders of each
countries by Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Abe in the coming G20 as the next host
country. However, among G20 leaders, MbS's ally is only US President Trump.
Many other leaders are suspicious of MbS. They, therefore, might be reluctant
for bilateral talks with him. MbS seems to be a troublemaker of PM Abe[5].
More serious problem is the development of domestic economy in
Saudi Arabia. MbS launched Vision 2030 and its related mega projects. The import
of technology and capital from foreign private enterprises and participation of
domestic private entities are indispensable for realization of mega projects.
However, concerning the relationship with the private sector, corruption exposure
case in 2017 and the Khashoggi case in 2018 became the obstacle to cooperate with
them. Private business owners in Saudi Arabia distrust with MbS due to the
corruption case and incline to be cooperative. Foreign private business owners
dislike the dirty image of MbS and hesitate to invest and transfer technology
to Saudi Arabia[6].
It is reported that foreign financial institutions rushed to the
issuance of bond by Saudi Aramco. Someone says that Western companies are coming
back to normal as before. This is merely the attitude of the financial sector,
which obey the nature of money only. They are almost irrelevant to the justice
and ethics. But it is quite different in other business sectors like
manufacturing. They have to be royal to the public opinion or consumers.
Please tell us your comments and opinions on this matter.
By Areha Kazuya
E-mail: Arehakazuya1@gmail.com
[1] ‘Saudi
Crown Prince starts Asia trip pledging $20b for Pakistan’, 2019/2/18, Gulf News
[2] ‘Qatar gives notice of its withdrawal from
OPEC’, 2018/12/3, OPEC Press Release
[3] ‘Saudi
Crown Prince starts Asia trip pledging $20b for Pakistan’, 2019/2/18, Gulf News
[4] ‘Dates
set for G20 Leaders’ Summit in Saudi Arabia’, 2018/4/17, Arab News
[5] ‘Telephone call between Saudi Crown Prince and Japanese PM Abe
confirms impatience of Muhammad’
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