Qatar To Maintain Support Of Anti Terror Efforts

Turkey ‘loyal’ to deal

President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday reaffirmed Turkey’s support for Qatar in its dispute with four other Arab states, saying their demands against the tiny Gulf nation were unacceptable. “When it comes to this list of 13 items … it’s not acceptable under any circumstances,” Erdogan said in an interview with France 24 television. Some of the terms were tantamount to “stripping” Qatar of its statehood, he added. Among their demands is for Qatar to end an accord under which Turkey maintains a military base in the Gulf state.

“We remain loyal to our agreement with Qatar. If it requests us to leave, we will not stay where we are not wanted,” he said through an interpreter, adding there had been no such request. Turkey, the most powerful regional country to stand by Qatar, has sent 100 cargo planes with supplies since its neighbours cut air and sea links. It has also rushed through legislation to send more troops to the military base in Doha. Two contingents of Turkish troops with columns of armoured vehicles have arrived since the crisis erupted on June 5.

Arab states that have cut ties with Qatar vowed Wednesday to maintain their boycott of the emirate, criticising its “negative” response to their list of demands to end the diplomatic crisis. Qatar appealed for “dialogue” to resolve the row while US President Donald Trump spoke to Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to urge all parties “to negotiate constructively”.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, meeting in Cairo, “regret the negative response from Qatar,” they said in a statement. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Qatar’s response to the bloc’s conditions had “no substance” and “reflects a lack of understanding of the gravity of the situation”. The talks in Cairo came a month after the four countries severed ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting extremism. “The boycott will remain,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at the same news conference in the Egyptian capital. The four Arab states stopped short of announcing new sanctions but Jubeir said they would “take steps at the appropriate time”.

More isolation predicted
The UAE state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, predicted more isolation for Qatar. “Next greater isolation, incremental measures & reputational damage stemming from Doha’s continued support for extremism & terrorism,” he tweeted. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke with the Amir of Kuwait and stressed Washington’s “support” for his efforts to mediate a solution to the crisis, Kuwait’s KUNA news agency said. The UN meanwhile said its undersecretary general for political affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, was in Kuwait for talks on ending the dispute.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in a statement that he was “pleased to see talks between (the US secretary of state) and the Kuwaitis”. “It is now a matter of the parties entering into negotiations,” he added. Qatar has said repeatedly it is ready for talks on the crisis, and Sheikh Mohammed reiterated that on Wednesday. “We welcome any serious efforts to resolve our differences with our neighbours,” he said. The minister accused Saudi Arabia and its regional allies of “demanding that we must surrender our sovereignty as the price for ending the siege”.

 

SOURCE : ARABTIMES

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