Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani speaking at a symposium organised by The Center for the National Interest in Washington DC, yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has said that the siege countries are undermining stability of the region and gambling with the lives of their people.
“In last six months, we have expressed over 50 times our readiness at all levels to engage in dialogue and blockading countries are not ready to sit and whenever they come to engage they will find us on the table,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
He added that there is a desire from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates to force Qatar to surrender but his country does not accept interference in its internal affairs.
Speaking in Washington DC, where he has been holding talks on the Gulf diplomatic crisis, in a symposium organised by The Center for the National Interest, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the countries which imposed the blockade on Qatar are being led by individuals who are seeking absolute power and away from institutional accountability. “These individuals are using cyber attack to tribal incitement to disrupt regional stability.”
The Deputy Prime Minister said that the Middle East went from centre of unity and enlightenment to being a region of turbulence.
“During the age of aggression, extremism has flourished while some governments are seeking domination, centralising power and intimidating smaller countries into submission. These things are happening right now in the region against small countries like Yemen, Somalia, Libya and now Lebanon.”
He said that the illegal blockade launched against Qatar 6 months ago is just one more example of power play. “The blockade is not truly about those fake demands or ultimatums but rather about modern day power playing regimes threatening freedom and liberty.”
He noted that those who are seeking to control power are creating crisis and they do not fight against terrorism. “Political manoeuvering is destroying the security of the region and creating a vacuum which extremist may fill.”
The Deputy Prime Minister said that some of the regional actors are playing dangerous games and political gambles in the region without having clear strategy, noting that Middle East has turned into a region of unrest instead of enlightenment.
He said that the unjust siege imposed on Qatar is a vibrant example of power abuse and the Gulf crisis. “There are countries which can use any means to threaten smaller states.”
“Thus they create humanitarian crisis; impose border, air and sea blockade; cut communications; manipulating financial markets; blackmailing; fracturing citizens; and spreading propaganda and all these measures are meant to pressure and frighten smaller countries.”
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that Qatar is playing a leading role in fighting against terrorism and believes that the best way for peace and stability is cooperation and partnership with the international community.
On other hand, he said that his country was open to Egypt and Qatar considers it an important central state and the interest of Qatar is to remain stable and secure. The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that Doha is not responsible for the tension with Cairo. In regard to Hamas, he said that Qatar never supported Hamas rather supported the people in Gaza Strip, which was destroyed during the war.
He said that the way Lebanon’s Prime Minister resigned shows that there was intervention in internal affairs of Lebanon. “We are in touch with our friends in Kuwait and their mediation to settle the dispute is existing. But, as US Sectary of State Rex Tillerson explained the blockading countries are not willing to sit for negotiations and no one could force them to do so.”
He noted that even if these countries agreed to sit to negotiate, they would not come with good intention to settle the differences. “If there is any more mediation, it will be within the framework of Kuwait’s mediation.”
Regarding the future of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Deputy Prime Minister said that after this crisis we need for a period of time to build confidence. Regarding the US position, the Deputy Prime Minister lauded the efforts of the White House and Secretary of State to settle the crisis saying President Trump wants to end to this crisis and “we highly appreciate the role of the US”.
However, he said, the blockading countries have refused all offers to sit and present their concerns, including invitation made by President Donald Trump.
