Today's 4...Relations, princes, severance & retirement

Middle-East-Online.com reported on warming relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Last week I mentioned that Saudi is sending an ambassador to Iraq for the first time since the Gulf War of 1990, and today Middle-East-Online commented that a delegation of senior Iraqi officials have visited Saudi Arabia. These warming relations are good news, and provide a refreshing contrast to the recent refusal of Bahrain and other GCC countries to attend an Arab League summit in Baghdad. Although I do wonder if these warming relations have anything to do with the Shia uprisings Saudi's Eastern Province? Is the Saudi Royal Family trying to send a more positive message to their minority Shia citizens? Let's wait and see.

Abu Dhabi and Charles go for green

Arabianbusiness.com reported that the Abu Dhabi backed Islamic investment fund has joined forces with Prince Charles, heir to the British throne to launch a $100m green energy venture in the UK. The venture will be led by Lord Rothschild's investment trust RIT Capital Partners and Fajr Capital. Sainsbury's supermarkets which are part owned by the Qatari Investment Authority have also backed the venture.

Ahramonline.com reported that Kuwait's parliament speaker and 4 other Kuwaiti members of parliament have called for Kuwait to cut all economic agreements with Syria. This comes after Kuwait expelled the Syrian Ambassador in Kuwait and recalled its own representatives from Damascus. Let's hope that it will have some impact on reducing Asad's brutality against his own people. I am not optimistic. I think the events of the past months have shown us that it will take more than sanctions to stop Asad in his tracks.

And finally...

CNN reported that Saleh has finally left the USA after travelling there for medical treatment prior to the uncontested elections which saw him replaced by his former vice president Hadi. Previous news articles suggested Saleh would return to Yemen for the elections and inauguration of Hadi as president. This has clearly not happened. Saleh is rumoured to be heading for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and I suspect this was not his first choice retirement venue. Interestingly, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the recent election in Yemen as  "another important step forward in their democratic transition process." It is interesting that she should describe a succession which involved an uncontested election and power passing from president to vice president as a step towards democracy. I suspect what Clinton really means is that, from a US perspective, it is a relief that Hadi has taken power rather than some unknown character. Better the devil you know - right Hillary?