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Oman FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Coordinating with Riyadh over Regional Issues

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.
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Oman FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Coordinating with Riyadh over Regional Issues

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi revealed that the upcoming summit between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq will witness the launch of a coordination council between the two neighboring countries.

Sultan Haitham will head to the Kingdom on Sunday on an official two-day visit.

Joint coordination
The council will act as the framework for several agreements between Riyadh and Muscat, added the FM in an interview to Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Coordination and consultations are always necessary, especially between brothers and neighboring countries,” he added. “The Kingdom and the Sultanate share several interests.”

The council will pave the way for the next phase in cooperation and the summit will likely witness the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding in several fields, Albusaidi continued.

He predicted that relations will witness a qualitative leap in the future, especially in wake of the anticipated historic opening of the first direct land border between them.

That will lead the way for promising logistic projects between them, he predicted.

Asked about Oman’s role at the AlUla summit in January that achieved Gulf reconciliation, Albusaidi explained that from the start, Muscat sought to support the Kuwaiti initiative that was proposed by late Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah and continued by his successor Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.

“We are now working with the Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers and secretary general to follow up on the summit between late Sultan Qaboos and Sheikh Sabah that was held in AlUla in January 2020,” he continued.

Regional stability
Moreover, he stressed that Saudi Arabia and Oman are closely coordinating their stances over a number of regional issues, starting with the conflict in Yemen.

Yemen, continued the minister, is of great importance on the regional and international scenes.
“We are working tirelessly and constantly to stop the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people, to end the war and help as much as possible to achieve peace and stability,” Albusaidi stated.

Muscat supports the Kingdom’s initiative to reach a ceasefire in Yemen, as well as the Riyadh Agreement and the efforts of the United Nations and United States envoys to the war-torn country.

“Our common goal is ending the conflict according to a solution that respects the concerns of all parties and helps them reach understandings that provide Yemen and the Yemenis with stability and coexistence,” he added.

Albusaidi denied that Oman had proposed a solution to the crisis. He dismissed the claims as rumors that spread when an Omani delegation paid a visit to Sanaa last month.

“There is no Omani initiative, rather Omani efforts to reach agreement between all parties,” he clarified.

Asked about the steps the Sultanate has taken to persuade the warring parties to return to negotiations, the FM replied: “We believe all parties want to resolve the crisis and achieve peace. We are working on achieving that through attempting to bridge divides and address differences between the parties.”

On Muscat’s hosting of the Iranian foreign minister in April and his meeting with Houthi officials, Albusaidi said: “We believe that Iran supports efforts to achieve the desired peace and stability.”

Turning to Iran and whether it will change its behavior with the election of Ebrahim Raisi as president, the FM said: “All behaviors can change and develop if the conviction and political desire is there.”

“We believe that these convictions and this desire are growing for the sake of regional security and peace,” he remarked.

He also denied that Oman was organizing a regional dialogue with Tehran, saying that any such dialogue should be proposed by the countries of the region themselves.

Arab relations
On the Arab scene, Albusaidi stressed Oman’s support for Syria’s return to the Arab League.

Sultan Haitham was the first Gulf leader to congratulate Bashar Assad on his reelection as president in May. Muscat also hosted Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Meqdad in March.

“We call for the resumption of fraternal relations and clearing the inter-Arab air at all times and circumstances,” he added.

Days ago, Albusaidi received a telephone call from his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid. The foreign ministry underscored Oman’s stance on the need to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Commenting on relations with Israel, Albusaidi denied that Oman will become the third Gulf state, after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, to normalize relations with Israel even though it supports the Abraham Accords.

“Oman believes in the concept of achieving just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. We will not be the third Gulf state to normalize ties, but we support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and we respect sovereign decisions of countries as we expect other countries to respect ours,” he stressed.

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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.