KUWAIT CITY, April 15: The Bahrain-based Menbar National Islamic Society’s call for a Gulf confederation has evoked varying reactions from several quarters. Secretary General of the society Dr Abdullatif Al-Sheikh had canvassed for a united confederation of GCC nations and suggested that all member countries follow the same economic, oil, security and foreign policies, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.

 The society argued that a united entity will boost comprehensive development in each country of the GCC, energize its markets and bring about economic solutions for most problems plaguing each country. It also canvassed for a common travel document and urged for the abolition of limits imposed among the nations in the Gulf. The society said small nations have no say in decision-making in today’s world, and hence there is a need to utilize unifying factors like religion, language, economy and geographical location to form an entity that would be a power to reckon with.

In a statement, the society pointed out that the Arab Gulf region is susceptible to conspiracies that can be foiled only by a unified entity.

Reacting to the call, Secretary General of the Council of Kuwaiti Shiite Clerics Mohammad Bakir Al-Mehri said Kuwait should remain a separate entity because there is safety, security, stability, and good livelihood under the able rule of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

Professor of psychology at Kuwait University (KU) Dr Huwaid Al-Mish’an lauded the idea of confederation but urged for gradual implementation, saying rushing the project might lead to avoidable errors. He said those opposing the idea of a Gulf confederation have ulterior motives, pointing out that a unified political and security entity is the right solution to the many threats including those of Iran.

A law professor at KU Dr Ibrahim Al-Hamoud warned of the idea, saying it is inappropriate. Citing the huge differences in the regimes of these countries, he said “Kuwait, for example, practices democracy and others do not and therefore, Kuwait should reject the proposal.”

Due to the small population of Kuwait, he said, the country will be a loser if the proposal is implemented, because workers will flow in from all other Gulf countries where unemployment and economic growth have been a problem. He noted that a unified defense apparatus could be given a chance but not social and economic confederation.