Wrangling over top GCC post ahead of summit

Manama: Qatar is mulling the launch of a campaign to extend the term of incumbent Gulf Cooperation Council secretary general Abdul Rahman Al Atiyyah, a Qatari national, a report has claimed.

"Even though Bahrain has announced that it has nominated Mohammad Al Mutawa, a cultural affairs advisor to the prime minister and former information minister to the position, Qatar is exploring the possibility of extending the term of Al Atiyyah beyond 2011," Elaph, an Arabic news portal, has reported.

Quoting diplomatic sources it did not name, Elaph said in case of approval from the Qatari leadership to the drive to offer Al Atiyyah a new term as GCC secretary general, Qatari officials would start consulting with their counterparts in other GCC member states.

However, Bahrain is adamant that its candidate will be the next GCC secretary general and, according to the report, its foreign minister, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, has made visits to GCC countries to inform them officially of Bahrain's nomination and determination.

All Gulf leaders, except Qatar, have welcomed the Bahraini choice, but Doha has deferred its decision and will inform Manama at a later stage, Elaph said.

The nomination of Al Mutawa, 62, for the GCC top post, announced by Gulf News on May 1, was confirmed in June when King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa of Bahrain received the candidate and thanked him for his services to Bahrain.

If confirmed in the post, Al Mutawa will in March 2011 replace Al Attiyah who took charge in April 2002. He will be the first Bahraini GCC secretary general.

Bahrain was scheduled in 2002 to assume the position rotating in the Arabic alphabetical order of names of the six member states, but gave up its turn after a request from Qatar.

Abdullah Bishara (Kuwait) was the first secretary-general of the GCC, established in 1981 in Abu Dhabi. He was succeeded in 1993 by Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi (UAE), by Jameel Al Hujailan (Saudi Arabia) in 1996 and by Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah (Qatar) in 2002. The secretary general is nominated for a renewable three-year term.

Al Mutawa who holds a university degree in philosophy and social studies was state minister for cabinet affairs and information minister before his appointment as cultural affairs advisor to the prime minister.