GLOBAL THAW OFFERS LEBANON A CHANCE
Daily Star – Lebanon
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
A proposed unity deal set to be signed between rival Palestinian
powers Hamas and Fatah, a truly significant occasion in itself, is
the latest in a string of similar moves toward reconciliation that
have taken place across the region in recent weeks.
Many seemingly irreconcilable disputes are beginning to show signs of
progress. In addition to the Hamas-Fatah deal, we have seen Iranians
move toward openness with the international community with reÂgards
to its nuclear program, warming ties between Syria and Saudi Arabia
and between Turkey and Armenia.
The departure of a neoconservative administration from the White House,
for whom force was seemingly the primary tool of diplomacy, has seen
relations in the region take a dramatic turn for the better. It seems
unlikely that any of these encouraging developments could have taken
place during the Bush administration, which serves to illustrate
both the positive and negative influence the United States can have
on the region.
These rapprochements stand in contrast to a period of political
brinkmanship which characterized regional relations of the past few
years. For Lebanon, a country whose politics is so influenced by
external factors, they are particularly significant, not to mention
timely.
The protracted cabinet-formation saga tells us little save that
Lebanese are the ones who pay the price when superÂpowers and regional
heavyweights collide. It is the Lebanese who suffer from lack of a
cabinet while external power struggles between interested parties play
out. Lebanon is continually used as a postbox through which regional
powers convey messages to each other. Nearly five months have passed
since LebaÂnon voted in parliamentary polls, yet the country remains
deadlocked and devoid of a working government. These are all factors
which affect the Lebanese in their daily lives, and far transcend
the political arena where are born.
The moves by various powers in region toward dialogue present a
rare window of opportunity for Lebanon to make progress in its
own endeavors. The proposed visit of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah
to Syria tomorrow – the latest visit signifying better relations
between Damascus and Riyadh – makes a solution to Lebanon’s own
dilemma real possibility.
Leaders on both sides, while certainly not freed of outside influence,
would do well to make the most of this atmosphere of compromise. While
the problems that existed before have not disappeared, there is
no reason why this transition we are seeing from confrontation to
reconciliation throughout the region, cannot be replicated in Lebanon.
It remains to be seen whether Lebanon will capitalize on this golden
opportunity. This favorable atmosphere will not last forever, and
the global community facing a variety of global problems may soon
turn its attention to other issues.