Arab common market: Border hostilities an impediment to trade, part 4
Regional, Analysis, 6/26/1999

Before we move on in this series on the Arab states' common market to address the more direct issues affecting the creation of such a market, it is necessary to deal with issues that at first may seem unrelated to the subject at hand. One such issue is the set of conflicts between some Arab states regarding border disputes.

Before any trade can commence between any two nations, a state of neutrality is needed at a minimum for the promotion of such activities, otherwise trade will almost certainly be either frowned upon, actively discouraged, or simply nonexistent, never fulfilling its complete potential. Therefore, at the very least for trade to be present and -- hopefully -- prosper, a state of neutrality or lack of hostility needs to exist.

Looking at the Arab states' maps, we find a very consistent, persistent, and disturbing trend of almost every state being either in direct dispute over border demarcation or simply in political dispute with one or more of its neighbors. Such a sad condition continues to persist, and very little determined and resolute effort is being made to quickly and effectively end these disputes and their root cause.

It is no wonder, therefore, that this state of affairs between the Arab states themselves is what it is, and the resulting poor inter-Arab trade performance that exists in comparison to any other international regional economic bloc. We find border disputes between Qatar and Bahrain, between Iraq and Kuwait, between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Between Oman and the United Arab Emirates, etc.. and we find many other neighboring disputes between every other state, whether they are public or not.

If we were to shift from looking at these obvious disputes that are hemorrhaging Arab states' economic, political and social wealth to looking at potential solutions, we find ourselves before certain principles that should be the guide to any Arab state that seeks to eliminate its border problems to achieve relations with its Arab neighbors that are not necessarily good, but at least neutral, that will provide the minimum needed conditions for Arab citizens to visit with and engage in commercial exchange with their immediate neighbors.

The first principle is most obviously, that a sincere will must exist to want to solve the border dispute.

Second, the stronger state in the border dispute should extend a hand of assurance and compromise to the weaker country.

Third, the richer country has the obligation to be more generous to the poorer country.

Once these basic principles are present and acted upon, we come to the fourth and most important principle, which is that time is the enemy and not the friend of such agreements. The longer the negotiations last, are delayed or are dragged, the more likely that other problems will intrude to make sure that these negotiations will fail.

Unless one of the countries involved intends by the time delay to grow stronger and someday attack the other country to forcibly gain territory, or force a de-facto control, there simply is no advantage to waiting, and there is every advantage to moving swiftly to reach an agreement.

Fifth, it is always preferable that border disputes between the Arab states are dealt with directly between the involved parties. If that is not possible then this issue should be moved to a third neutral party that will guarantee a time limit for reaching a resolution on the arbitration of the dispute. Again, to reemphasize, the crucial aspect here is that a time limit is set, at the end of which a decision must be made to resolve this matter.

This third neutral party should preferably be the Arab League or another neutral Arab entity, but because of the reality of the lack of such an effective and much needed neutral judicial Arab states supreme court at this time, international institutions that have demonstrated the ability to be effective in resolving these disputes should be the last resort.

Of course, all these procedural matters can be swept away by great leaders who are intent on having their countries be at peace within themselves and with their neighbors. Such leaders can immediately and decisively give the order to their government, "I want this problem solved, and I want it done now," and by calling their neighbor and saying, "Let us solve our border problem," and it will be done.

This border dispute problem has been the poison that has corrupted and damaged much of the interests of the individual Arab states and their collective strategic interests -- political, social and economic. The leadership of the Arab states owe it to their people to provide a nurturing atmosphere where commerce can prosper and travel and mobility of workers

Previous Stories:
  Arab common market: The state of economic affairs in the Arab states, part 3   (6/19/1999)
  Arab common market: Low inter-trade reveals problem, part 2   (5/12/1999)
  Arab common market: The possibility of realization, Part 1   (5/10/1999)

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