Secret documents show Qatar’s wanton disregard of past pacts
dubai — Four Arab states sought to pile pressure on Qatar over charges it backs terrorism, saying the publication of a previously secret accord between Riyadh and Doha showed Qatar broke a promise not to meddle in the affairs of Gulf countries.
The text of the 2013 accord, whose existence was known but whose contents have never before been made public, was first published by CNN on Monday and later released on social media by Saudi officials.
In a joint statement, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said the publication of the accord, meant to settle a dispute between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours, “confirms beyond any doubt Qatar’s failure to meet its commitments and its full violation of its pledges”.
Amid fresh tension with Qatar, the four slapped sanctions on Doha on June 5, accusing it of supporting terrorism, cosying up to Iran, backing the Muslim Brotherhood — the world’s oldest Islamist organisation — and interference in their affairs.
The four say Qatar pledged to desist from interfering in its neighbours’ politics in the 2013 agreement.
The document surfaced as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in the region to help Washington’s allies hammer out a way out of the crisis.
The Riyadh accord aimed to enhance cooperation between sovereign Gulf Arab states and avoid interference in their internal affairs, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) said.
Kuwaiti mediation efforts hit a snag last week when the four Arab states said they were disappointed with Qatar’s response to their list of 13 demands.
Qatar said the demands, which included ending support for militant groups, the closure of the Al Jazeera TV channel, shutting down a Turkish military base in Qatar and downgrading ties with Iran, were an infringement of its sovereignty.
QNA reported Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed Al Thani, director of Qatar’s government communications, as saying the 13 demands bore no relation to the Riyadh accord.
The 2013 agreement, reached in Riyadh hosted by the then Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, was signed by the Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Kuwaiti Amir His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah while an implementation mechanism was signed by the six GCC foreign ministers.
The parties agreed to refrain from backing any political currents that pose a threat to any member country of the (GCC and provided for Muslim Brotherhood leaders who are non-GCC citizens to leave the area.—