Qatar’s pact with US to fight terror ‘not enough’

ARAB STATES WILL CLOSELY MONITOR DOHA’S COMMITMENT TO THE DEAL

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt yesterday said: “The four nations value the efforts being made by the United States to counter terrorism and dry up sources of terror finance as well as the full-fledged robust partnership demonstrated in the Islamic-US Summit, which formed an international decisive position against extremism and terrorism, regardless of their sources and origin.

While the four nations believe that the Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Qatar is a result of repeated pressures and demands over the past years for Qatar to stop supporting terrorism, they affirm that such a step is not enough and they will closely monitor the seriousness of Qatar in combating all forms of funding, supporting and fostering of terrorism.

In a statement issued last night, the quartet affirmed that the measures they have taken were motivated by the continuous and diversified activities of the Qatari authorities in supporting, funding and hosting terrorism and terrorists, as well as promoting hateful and extremist rhetoric and interference in the internal affairs of the neighbouring states.

Qatar should completely stop these activities and implement the list of the 13 fair and legitimate demands, in addition to any demands that the four nations may later announce, after the world knows about the insincerity of the Qatari authorities, the statement said.

The Qatari authorities have negated all their agreements and commitments, including the Riyadh Agreement in 2013, which triggered the withdrawal of ambassadors from Doha. The envoys were only returned after Qatar signed the supplementary agreement in 2014. However, Doha has continued to meddle, and has incited, colluded and hosted terrorists, funded terror operations..., the statement added.

The United States and Qatar signed a memo of understanding yesterday on steps the tiny Gulf nation will take to stop the funding of terrorism, US officials said yesterday.

The agreement aims to encourage Qatar’s neighbours to abandon their embargo on the country.

The memo was announced in the Qatar capital of Doha, where Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spent the day working to resolve the regional dispute.

Though full details of the agreement between the United States and Qatar were not immediately available, Tillerson adviser R.C. Hammond said it outlines “future efforts Qatar can take to fortify its fight against terrorism and actively address terrorism funding issues.”

“This is a hopeful step forward,” he said.