OUTLOOK — By Haider Al Lawati — In today’s world there are many conflicts, disorders and disputes in the region. Some of these need more sensible and wise leaders to intervene in issues that affect the rights and freedom of people. Thus, it is necessary that some wise politicians intervene in order to reduce these tensions.
In international relations it is known that the interference of a third party sometimes leads to resolving complicated issues between the government and the people if the intentions are pure, and the methods adopted are neutral in resolving disputes.
Therefore, in order to settle any conflict between groups, individuals, states, organisations, tribes and families, the best way to end them is to seek the help of a third party by changing the negotiations from a bilateral to a multilateral level. Multilateral negotiations are always special and their intervention is crucial.
The third party can be a secret mediator in some cases. Its job is the preparation for the communications between the two parties, whether these negotiations are political, economic, financial or tribal.
The mediator has to strengthen the positive points for reaching a final agreement between the negotiating parties. In all conditions the third party must be impartial and trusted by the two parties so that can play an effective role in the negotiations process for the benefit of everyone.
Above all, the important factor at the outset is that it satisfies both sides and is respected by them. The mediator must also be able to carry out the necessary contacts and be qualified to play an active role in reaching a final agreement between the two parties.
As a mediator, the third party must be accepted by all other parties and it should be invited on a voluntary basis.
They should possess a strong personality that can have a considerable influence over the negotiations and its intervention must be taken into consideration in order to be able to give advisory recommendations to the disputants on a voluntary basis.
We observe that those who are involved in such conflicts are usually states, trade unions, employers and organisations. The mediator must have enough power to lead the parties to a final end and be a good communicator, formulator and manipulator who can implement ideas as well as show respect for the ideas of other parties.
The mediator’s main task is to obtain the confidence of the parties concerned and discuss the interests of both sides, keeping the negotiations under his control through the provision of positive assessments. The third party always tries to bridge the gap in viewpoints between the two parties in order to move the possibly rigid negotiations towards a flexible solution.
In most political issues that we read about in the media, such as the recent incidents between the governments of some of the countries in the region, rigidity is the main factor.
We need such attempts in the Arab region also. The third parties have to choose the place and the field of negotiations to give each party an opportunity to explain its views and put forward their proposals without any pressure from the other party.
It is imperative that the third party negotiates to defuse the tensions in the region and speed up the process to stop conflicts.
We need the third parties to try their best to avoid more misunderstandings that could lead to the deterioration of the situation and thus create new problems in the region. They have to exert continuous and major efforts in order to help the conflicting parties reach a final solution through restructuring issues, building trust and finding acceptable alternatives.
Thus, the third parties are the best mediators in any conflict because they can create the sequence of talks needed among the parties by providing positive ways to reach an agreement. We have to understand that life is all about negotiations. Without negotiations one cannot live as a human being in a society. We have to continue to coexist with others, whomsoever they are.
At the end of the day the process of negotiations is optional and voluntary. No one can impose their views on others against their will. Some negotiations strain the body and soul as a result of the daily bitterness and frustrations that accompany it. But they must reach the goal of peace finally, and translate these sacrifices into facts on the ground.
