Shaikh Khalid lashes out at Qatar for provoking tensions

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

In a strongly-worded statement, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Muhammad Al Khalifa yesterday lashed out at Qatar for provoking tensions in the region, jeopardising joint Gulf action.

Shaikh Khalid, the Adviser to His Majesty the King for Diplomatic Affairs, said Qatari actions led to damaging the historical fraternal relations between countries.

“The Cooperation Council had made many important steps for joint Gulf action, but it faced many challenges and obstacles” from Qatar, Shaikh Khalid said.

The statement also follows Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani accusing Qatar of not adhering to the Al-Ula Declaration signed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt agreed to ease the boycott imposed on Doha since 2017. “Qatar ignoring the provisions stated in Al-Ula Declaration prevents the start of a new phase of regional stability,” Al Zayani said recently. Shaikh Khalid pointed out that Qatari aggressions have a long history.

In 1996, Shaikh Khalid said, Qatar attacked Fasht al-Dibal in flagrant violation of a joint Gulf military agreement, which required Saudi Arabia to move quickly to contain the situation.

He further pointed out that in 1990, when Kuwait was under the brutal Iraqi occupation, Qatar obstructed the Gulf summit in Doha with claims having no legal basis for lands and seas belonging to Bahrain, wasting time on the most crucial goal of liberating Kuwait. “In 1991, Qatar went to the International Court of Justice demanding 30% of Bahrain’s land and waters, a case Qatar lost after the court discovered that Qatar used 83 forged documents to support its claims.”

“In 1992, in clear violation of the 1965 border agreement between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Qatar launched an attack on the Saudi Al-Khufus region killing a Saudi officer and two Qatari soldiers.

Saudi wisdom was a reason for containing the situation.”

Shaikh Khalid added, “After that, Qatar continued to interfere in the internal affairs of all GCC states and conspire against them in addition to signing military agreements with countries outside the framework of the Cooperation Council.”

“And here we are today, witnessing the continuous suffering of Bahraini sailors in Arabian Gulf.”

Shaikh Khalid also accused Qatar of targeting Bahraini fishermen “without any regard for brotherly relations and the principles of good neighbourliness.”

“While Bahrain allows Qatari sailors to fish in its waters and sell in its ports, Qatar is targeting Bahraini fishermen and even killing them and confiscating their properties.”

All these challenges came from Qatar, Shaikh Khalid said.

“Yes, all of them are from Qatar.”

“If Qatar wants to preserve and develop the GCC march, then it must abide by the treaties it had with its brothers and stop repeating its violation before it demands new agreements,” stressed Shaikh Khalid.