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Let there be unity

IRANIAN President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Saudi Arabia and meeting with King Abdullah opens a new chapter in what is undoubtedly unfolding as an unprecedented period in modern Middle East history. The mayhem in Iraq coupled with Israel’s summer skirmish with Hezbollah brought pockets of the long subdued sectarian minority back to life across the region, just as Iraq’s civil war was seriously threatening to spill over into wider Arabia. Therefore, as representatives and effective heads of the two sects, Saudi Arabia and Iran have done the right thing by showing solidarity regarding key regional issues, especially sectarianism.

Importantly, the summit took place at a time when both countries were placing themselves for a more dominant regional role after the chips fell in their places. America’s rage against the Taleban and Saddam’s Baathists removed two of Iran’s most serious concerns. And with Teheran’s good friends now sitting in Baghdad, a more pronounced showing of its reach was only inevitable.

For its part, Saudi Arabia has shifted gears from the traditional watch-your-interest doctrine to an enhanced role in settling regional matters. The success of the Hamas-Fatah Makkah summit attracted instant global attention and subsequent appreciation for the initiative. The meet with Ahmadinejad too falls under this line.

Now, the Iran-Saudi vow to fight sectarianism together sends two important messages. As a first and immediate step, it sends a signal to those carrying out the infighting to stop shedding needless Muslim blood. Secondly, it’s an initiative to show sectarian unity and harmony on the collective Muslim platform and everybody is invited. The latter is a strong political message, meant to counter popular perception that the Muslim split is beyond bridging.