Khaleej Times

Qatar financed terror for years

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cairo — Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Qattan has said that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, is keen to strengthen cooperatio­n between Saudi Arabia and all the countries of the world.

Ambassador Qattan, who is also his country’s Permanent Representa­tive to the Arab League and the Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps accredited to the host country of Egypt, currently leading the kingdom’s delegation to the 148th session of the Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, added that Saudi Arabia is keen on the unity and sovereignt­y of Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Libya.

Qattan said that he considered the actions taken by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt against Qatar are sovereign measures, due to the wrong policies of the Qatari government over many years which supported and financed terrorism and hosting those involved in terrorism on its soil, spreading hatred and interferin­g in the internal affairs of other states.

“We have had to take these measures for the benefit of Qatar on one hand and our security and stability on the other,” he said, citing that the Qatari actions have been condemned internatio­nally.

“The four countries will continue to adhere to these demands until Qatar responds,” he said. “Unfortunat­ely, Qatar has given its first hope to end the crisis, after the telephone call between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence, and the Amir of Qatar, who made the call, whereby Qatar evaded and distorted the reality of the contents of the telephone call that took place.”

He added, “Dialogue with Qatar will remain suspended until it makes it position clear, publicly, showing its willingnes­s for the process. What Qatar has done reinforced the fact that they are unwilling to enter into dialogue.”

On Qatar’s rapprochem­ent with Iran, Qattan explained that “this is a sovereign decision, but the embrace in the arms of the Iranians and others will only lead to destructio­n and will have a negative effect on them”.

“Everyone, especially in the GCC states, recognises the destructiv­e Iranian role which is the interferen­ce in internal affairs and destabilis­ation and security in GCC states. No country, that has dealt with Iran, achieved good from it. If the Qatari regime thinks that it has an interest in rapprochem­ent with Iran, the coming days will prove that this is not good at a time when the Qatari people themselves will not accept that Iran will have a role in their country.”

 ?? Reuters ?? Arab foreign ministers meet in Cairo during a regular session to discuss latest developmen­ts in the Middle East region. —
Reuters Arab foreign ministers meet in Cairo during a regular session to discuss latest developmen­ts in the Middle East region. —

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