Manama: Three days before the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Kuwait, observers have been wondering whether the non-consensus over the name of the secretary general for the next term will cast a heavy shadow over the high-level meetings.
Bahrain last June said that it nominated Mohammad Al Mutawa, a former information minister and currently the cultural advisor to the prime minister, to replace Abdul Rahman Al Atiyyah in March 2011.
Al Atiyyah, a Qatari national, has been holding the position since 2002, and Manama believes that a Bahraini national should now for the first time be given the honour.
Four countries, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have supported Bahrain's nominee, sending letters of endorsement to King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa.
However, Qatar, diplomats told Gulf News, wants to prolong Al Atiyyah's term until 2014.
"A consensus should be reached before the summit opens in Kuwait City on Monday. Kuwait, as a host, is really keen on a successful summit, particularly that crucial issues will be reviewed by the leaders," sources in Manama told Gulf News.
Bahrain was scheduled to take over the chair rotating in the Arabic alphabetical order in 2002, but gave up its turn to Qatar.
