Manama: Bahrain’s foreign minister has ruled out any intention to retreat from the common position taken by his country, Saudi Arabia and the UAE towards Qatar, saying that it was in the interest of security and stability in the region.
The meeting between King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa on Wednesday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah stressed the unity of the position taken by the three Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and their determination to keep it, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa said.
“It is now up to the Qatari leadership to change its approach, to respond and to correct its position by adhering to all commitments,” he said.
“There is a need for genuine guarantees for honouring the pledge as it cannot be just through promises because our leaders, countries and peoples have no time to waste and we should all move forward together. Otherwise, Qatar will assume the full responsibility,” Shaikh Khalid was quoted as saying by Saudi daily Makkah.
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday severed their diplomatic relations with Qatar to “protect their national security and stability. “
The minister said that it was too early to comment on the option of suspending Qatar’s membership from the GCC, the alliance set up in 1981 and comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
However, he did not rule out the option.
“What I can say is that any measure that protects our countries, people and the GCC from any threat from within or from outside is now possible. There is no hesitation in protecting our interests and we will not go back in any way.”
Shaikh Khalid said Bahrain suffered from Qatar’s policies, especially since the start of the so-called “Arab Spring revolutions.”
“We have suffered a great deal in the past and we have been very patient, especially in the Kingdom of Bahrain. We suffered from Qatar’s interference and media onslaughts from Al Jazeera.
"We put up with its support to saboteurs and conspirators targeting the security of the country and its contacts with them for many years and especially since 2011. We have clear and complete evidence. If this situation does not change for us in Bahrain and for the other countries that have decided to cut ties with Qatar, there will be no change. In fact, the options are open to us to defend our interests in any current or future way.”
The minister said that the open and obvious coordination between Qatar and Iran harmed the interests of Bahrain and the region.
“The harm is obvious and goes beyond the statements posted by Qatar News Agency to include the contacts that took place afterwards and the declarations that were issued.
"Iran, to us, is a real enemy that conspires against us in every way, and to see one of the GCC countries cooperating with it in this fashion is totally unacceptable and proves that there is cooperation and coordination and harmony between them in all the steps.
"We have also seen the unmistakable coordination between Qatar and Iran since 2011 regarding the internal situation in Bahrain. We view it as an integrated policy and full coordination.”
Shaikh Khalid that the mediation efforts by Kuwait’s Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad were appreciated, but added that the current circumstances did not give him the opportunity to succeed.
“Qatar is responsible for this. It did not give the Emir of Kuwait any chance of success in his endeavours. There are some who did not appreciate the efforts, and this lack of appreciation came mainly from Qatar as it kept the same policy and its violation of the Riyadh agreement and all other accords. Qatar did not assist the Emir of Kuwait in his good endeavours,” he said.
“If Qatar wants to address the crisis with the GCC countries, it should rectify the course of its action and give priority and importance to its Arab and Gulf dimensions and to the brothers and people associated with the people of Qatar in terms of family, relations and race.
"Qatar should give these elements importance and build its policies around them, instead of going to our enemies, far and near, and to those who want to dominate and subvert and allow them to use its media to attack the Gulf countries.
"Qatar should not donate cash to organizations that want to harm our countries. Qatar should build its policy on the reality of its people. The people of Qatar are noble and they are our families.
"Should politics be built on such positive bases, we are all in the GCC faring well and moving towards further prosperity.”
