MANAMA: The Amir of Qatar has ignored demands put forward by Arab nations in his TV speech, it was revealed early today.
Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in his first comment on the crisis since four Arab countries cut ties with his nation, also glossed over Qatar’s subversive role in the region, informed sources told our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej.
The televised address last night – in which Shaikh Tamim offered conditional talks – had nothing new to offer, they pointed out.
They also said the speech was contradictory and packed with claims of injustice and an attempt to distance Qatar from charges that it supports terrorism, the sources added.
The Qatari leader first said in his speech that life in his country was normal despite the blockage imposed by the Arab nations but later voiced the hope that it would end soon as it was causing a lot of hardships.
He also said Qatar would not renounce its policies, which the boycotting nations consider support for terrorism.
“We are open to dialogue to resolve the outstanding problems,” so long as Qatar’s “sovereignty is respected,” Shaikh Tamim said in his speech.
However, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir, speaking in Rome after meeting his Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano, said “we have nothing to negotiate”.
Qatar must choose if it wants to “stop funding terrorism’’ or continue to do so, he said.
The Qataris “have accepted eight out of 13 requests in 2014’’ but they were “never implemented’’. It is necessary for Qatar to “abide by those principles. We don’t do it to harm Qatar”, he added, noting the step was painful but necessary to “guarantee that terrorism is not supported anymore”’.
Riyadh has the intention of “moving forward to improve the country”, he stated, but “if we have to confront terrorism the process is complicated” and for this reason “we are intolerant towards terrorism” and “determined to work with allies”, including Italy, Al Jubeir said.
The Saudi minister also stressed Saudi accusations against Tehran. “Iran sponsors terrorism – establishes terror cells in our countries, violates international treaties and is introducing arms and explosives in Kuwait, Yemen and Bahrain to destabilise the region,” he said.
The crisis between the regional allies is the worst to hit the Gulf in decades.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt also imposed sanctions on Doha, including closing its only land border, refusing Qatar access to their airspace and ordering their citizens back from Qatar.
And on June 22, they went on to present the emirate with a list of 13 demands with which to comply to resolve the crisis.
Kuwait has been trying to mediate the crisis and several top Western diplomats have toured the region to try to defuse the row, including US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
In a sign of progress, UAE state minister Anwar Gargash earlier in the day welcomed changes to Qatar’s anti-terror legislation as a “positive” step.
Qatar announced a decree late Thursday night establishing two nominal lists of individuals and terrorist entities, and the requirements for being included in them. It also defined terrorists, terrorist crimes, terrorist entities and the financing of terrorism.