Saudi, allies vow more steps against Qatar

Manama : The four Arab states boycotting Qatar have said that its refusal to accept the demands to resolve the diplomatic crisis is proof of its links to terror groups and that they would enforce new measures against it.

The four states - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain – said in a joint statement that their initial list of 13 demands was now void and pledging new political, economic and legal steps against Qatar.

“The Qatari government’s intransigence and rejection of the demands presented by the four countries reflect the extent to which it is linked to terror groups, its continued attempt to sabotage and undermine security and stability in the Gulf and the region, and its deliberate harm of the interests of the peoples of the region, including those of the fraternal people of Qatar,” the four states said in a statement, adding that the Qatari government worked to thwart diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. The four countries thanked Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, for his efforts to resolve the crisis with the Qatari government. 

Citicising Qatar for leaking the list of demands, the qusrtet deplored the lack of discretion and respect with regard to diplomatic principles by the Qatari government towards Kuwaiti efforts. They criticised the Qatari government for continued violation of agreements, particularly the Riyadh Agreement signed by Qatar in 2013 and the Supplementary Agreement and its Executive Mechanism in 2014.

Expressing surprise over the unjustified rejection by the Qatari government of the list of the legitimate and logical demands aimed at combating terrorism, the statement said: “The four countries will take all political, economic and legal measures and procedures in the form they deem appropriate in due time and in a manner that preserves their rights, security, stability and protects their interests from the hostile policy of the Qatari government,” the statement said, indicating fresh measures against Qatar.

The Qatari people are an integral part of the Gulf and Arab entities and the measures taken are directed at the Qatari government to correct its policy that seeks to break up the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council, undermine Arab and international security and destabilise the countries of the region, the statement said.

“This policy by the Qatari government constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereign rights guaranteed by international law in accordance with the Charter of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Charter of the League of Arab States, the Charter of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms governing relations between states,” the statement added.

Violations include interference in the internal affairs of the states of the region, undermining their security and stability with the aim of spreading chaos and destruction, destabilising their internal security, supporting and funding regional and international organisations listed as terrorist entities in a flagrant breach of the international law calling for close cooperation in fighting terrorism and implementing the relevant regional and international agreements and the outcomes of the Islamic American Summit held in Riyadh and attended by 55 Islamic countries and the United States of America represented by President Donald Trump.

All participating countries, including the government of Qatar, approved the outcomes of the historic summit.”