MANAMA 31 July 2017: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has confirmed that the four countries boycotting the State of Qatar take the country’s people into consideration before taking any step towards resolving the Qatari crisis.
Sheikh Abdullah made the remarks during a joint press conference held in Manama with the foreign ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arab Republic of Egypt, said Wam.
Sheikh Abdullah said the main responsibility for the crisis lies with the Qatari state, which can easily function within its Arab periphery.
“It is for the Qatari leadership to decide the approach they want for Qatar and for the people of Qatar,” he added.
He also indicated that the steps taken by the four countries are in line with the fundamental principles of international law and are a reflection of their commitment to the law.
Consensus
“There is a consensus among the four countries that in every step we take, we try to minimise any impact on the brotherly people of Qatar.”
“In 2013 and 2014, we had talks, following which, Qatar signed agreements but failed to honour them. Before entering into new commitments, Qatar should ask itself: Are we willing to commit, or will we dishonour our commitments again?” he added.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al Jubeir deemed Qatar’s request to internationalize the holy places as an aggression and declaring a war against Saudi Arabia.
“We have the right to respond to any party working in the field of internationalization of the holy places. The history of the Kingdom is clear in facilitating the arrival of pilgrims,” he said.
The Saudi foreign minister considered Qatar’s decision to prevent Qatari citizens from pilgrimage, reflecting their disrespect for the Qatari pilgrims, expressing the Kingdom’s welcome to them.
He affirmed that all actions taken by the four countries were due to the Qatari government’s policy of supporting and funding terrorism, hosting people involved in terrorism, promoting hate and interfering in the other countries’ internal affairs.
Asked about Qatar’s relations with Iran, Al Jubeir said: “Qatar bears the consequences of relations with Iran but we don’t think the Qatari people will accept any Iranian role in Qatar.”
Talks
He said the four countries are ready for talks with Qatar on implementing the the six principles announced at the Cairo meeting.
“Qatar talks about everything, except for halting terror funding, instigation, harbouring wanted people and interfering in other countries’ internal affairs,” he added.
Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Foreign Minister of Bahrain, said the four countries expressed their willingness to engage in dialogue with Qatar.
He praised his country’s cooperation with Egypt in all fields, especially the joint military exercises between the two countries.
Sameh Shukry, Foreign Minister of Egypt, also lauded cooperation with Bahrain.
“This military cooperation contributes maintaining Arab security, as well as the security of Bahrain and Egypt,” he said.
He stressed that any talks with Qatar require the latter to commit to meeting the 13 demands and the six principles.
Statement by Foreign Ministers of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt on Qatar
Manama: The foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arab Republic of Egypt issued the following statement after their joint meeting in Manama Sunday: -The foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arab Republic of Egypt met on July 30th 2017 as part of their continuing consultations on the Qatari crisis and the necessity of Doha stopping its support and funding of terrorism; sheltering and providing safe havens for fugitives and defects convicted of terrorism and its financing in their countries; promoting hatred rhetoric and incitement; and meddling in the internal affairs of the region’s countries.
-The ministers praised the efforts made by the King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his warm welcome and hospitality, expressing gratitude at getting informed of his wise vision to ensure common Arab interests and continuation of solidarity between the four countries vis-a-vis all the challenges besetting them.
-The ministers reviewed the latest developments of the Qatari crisis and the communications they conducted over the past period at the regional and international levels, affirming their continued coordination to put an end to terrorism and maintain regional and international peace and security.
-The four nations have underscored the importance of the six guiding principles declared at the Cairo meeting as representing international consensus toward combatting terrorism and extremism, uprooting its funding, and rejecting interference in the internal affairs of other countries, which are all acts that fly in the face of all international laws and conventions, underlining in this regard the importance of enforcing the Riyadh Agreements in 2013 and 2014 which have not been honoured by the State of Qatar.
-The four nations underline the importance of Qatar meeting the 13 anti-terror demands listed by them before in order to achieve security regionally and globally.
-The four nations expressed readiness for dialogue with Qatar with the condition that it declares its sincere willingness to stop funding terrorism and extremism and its commitment to not interfere in other countries’ foreign affairs and respond to the 13 demands.
-The four countries stress that all the measures taken against Qatar align with their sovereignty and international law.
– The four states commended the role played by the Emir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to resolve the Qatari crisis within an Arab framework .
-The four countries denounced Qatar’s measures regarding blocking its nationals from performing Haj this year, lauding the consistent services provided by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to welcome all pilgrims and streamline their religious rituals.
The four ministers agreed to continue consultations and coordination on the issue during their next meetings.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation represented the UAE during the meeting.
By Eudore R. Chand