‘Qatar left us with no option’

Manama : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday urged the Qatari leadership to end all subversive practices, which threaten the security and safety of other Arab and Islamic countries. 

“The Qatari leadership’s interference, which targeted other Arab and Islamic countries, left us with no option but to take measures,” said HM the King, in a statement following his arrival in Jeddah.

HM the King also urged the Qatari leadership “to reconsider its policies and honour its commitments to avert chaos and end all subversive practices which threaten the security and safety of our countries and jeopardise the unity of our societies”.

HM the King said that relations would then be reinstated “for the good of our dear brethren in Qatar and for us all”.

“Bahrain has chosen, all along its history, solidarity with the Saudi Arabia to conserve religion, Arab identity, coexistence and tolerance and preserve its entity and good neighbourliness,” HM the King said.

King Hamad, while holding discussions with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, asserted that the collective steps taken by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt were necessary to face challenges.

The meeting was held in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

His Majesty also affirmed Bahrain’s keenness on peace and welfare for all, stressing its full support to Saudi Arabia in its efforts to maintain security and stability and deter attempts to wreak chaos.

Congratulating King Salman on the Holy month of Ramadan, HM the King commended the pioneering role of King Salman in boosting cooperation between countries and the positive results of the summits hosted by Riyadh, including the GCC-US Summit and the Arab Islamic-US Summit.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques hosted an Iftar banquet in honour of HM the King.

Earlier, HM the King was received on his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Saudi King’s Advisor and Makkah Governor Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Minister of Commerce and Investment Majid Al-Qasabi, Bahrain Ambassador to Riyadh Shaikh Humood bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa, Bahrain General Consul in Jeddah Ibrahim Al-Meselmani and Jeddah Governorate Secretary-General Dr. Hani Abu Ras.

King Hamad will now head to Egypt to hold talks with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi on the historical fraternal relations between the two countries, as well as regional and international developments, the Royal Court announced.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain announced on Monday they were cutting diplomatic ties and closing air, sea and land links with Qatar, giving Qataris within their borders two weeks to leave.

The United Arab Emirates’ state minister for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash on Wednesday accused Qatar of being “the main champion of extremism and terrorism in the region”.

But he also said measures taken against Qatar this week by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Arab nations were not aimed at seeking new leadership in Doha.