After the Nobel Prize (1989-1994) by R. Neil hewison

Author:R. Neil hewison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zaccmedia Publishing Ltd
Published: 2020-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

4/7/1991

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1 Misr al-Mahrusa, a common epithet of the country.

2 Lake Burullus is a shallow, brackish lake some 50 kilometres long, within the Nile Delta.

‘When One Is Tested …’

The development of events between the Socialist block and the West have heralded for us the birth of a new world, one built on the shunning of violence in resolving its problems, its vision resting on the support of liberty and justice. We have previous experience here, as with the League of Nations, which suffered failure, and the United Nations, which has achieved moderate success – true, it was not able to bring an end to the struggle of the giants or to their manipulation of the fates of smaller nations at times, but under its auspices many peoples have gained their independence and sanctions were imposed on South Africa, while it has spawned organisations that perform genuine services in education, health, culture and development. Under its roof too, the world has found a palpable voice of public opinion and a global conscience that cannot be ignored.

So we have high hopes for the heralded new world, and we refuse to jump the gun with doubts and misgivings under the influence of a long history full of sadnesses and disappointments. Fate decreed that our region, the Middle East, would be the first test for this new world. An evil aggression occurred here, challenging the highest principles and threatening the most serious interests. The world condemned it and called for a peaceful resolution, but when there was no other way, it resolved the situation with force and liberated the conquered people, secured global interests and punished the aggressors.

But the work is not finished, and the Middle East still holds a serious test for the new world, perhaps more important than the first, for the construction of the pillars of peace may be more difficult than the war itself.

Today the world is confronting the problems of the region, first among which are the Palestinian issue, Arab–Israeli relations, nonconventional weapons and the matter of security and development.

We need not mention the persistent efforts that have been made and are being made, or what we perceive of a general plan for a solution to the problems. I cannot imagine – or I do not want to imagine – that the global effort will cease or retreat if it faces a trench filled with obstinacy and selfish interests. I cannot imagine that it will accept failure in the test, and sacrifice the dream of the new world.

It is a true test – and as the adage avers, ‘When one is tested, one is treated with honour or held in contempt.’

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