Middle East’s longest-serving ruler, H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur, who transformed the Sultanate of Oman into a modern state is no more. By carefully balancing diplomatic ties during conflicts, the great visionary leader had played a key role in establishing peace and stability in the region.
The tweet of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expressing sadness on his departure and the three days of mourning in Qatar highlighted the great position he has in the minds of Qatari people. By his demise, Qatar has lost an utmost trustworthy person, and partner in peace making, who placed predominant consideration on the supreme interest of the Gulf, Arab and Islamic values in all steps ahead.
The bilateral ties between Qatar and Oman rose to new heights during his time. Qatar will ever remember him not just as the leader of the Sultanate of Oman but as a true friend who shared common vision and positions with Qatar's leadership throughout the past decades.
The wisdom and vision of Sultan Qaboos led Oman to prosperity and it helped shape Oman’s policy of non-interference and diplomatic balancing. Oman rose to the position as a reliable mediator under his ruling and helped in settling many disputes and defusing tensions in this region.
One of Oman's remarkable achievements in its mediation process, was the (P5+1) agreement in 2015 with Iran on its nuclear programme. And his bold decisions further cemented Oman’s strategic ability to be a facilitator and even a mediator. It is noteworthy that Oman is a close partner to both the US and Iran and also mediated talks on various conflicts between them.
The visit of H H the Amir to the Sultanate of Oman to offer condolences on the death of H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur is highly promising. After all, the visit will also help further strengthen ties under the new H M Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.
The words of H M Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said in his first public remarks sound auspicious in view of the ongoing regional turmoils and also in view of the prosperous Qatar-Oman ties.
“We will follow the same line as the late Sultan, and the principles that he asserted for the foreign policy of our country, of peaceful coexistence among nations and people, and good neighborly behaviour of non-interference in the affairs of others,” said H M Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. The day of his departure was sad for Qatar, but it represents a new beginning with the new Sultan.
