Qatar has gone back on its written word

Qatar can no longer disregard the demands put forward by its GCC counterparts, nor can it get away by saying that the allegations levelled against the country are ‘unjustified’ and ‘baseless’. The CNN has at hand leaked copies of agreements Doha signed with its neighbouring countries in 2013 and 2014. The first document — the Riyadh Agreement, dated November 23, 2013, and signed by the King of Saudi Arabia and the Amirs of Qatar and Kuwait — specifically bars Doha from supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, interfering in the internal affairs of other Gulf nations, as well as backing opposition groups in Yemen that could be a threat to its neighbours. Though the existence of these agreements was public, the content had been kept private due to the sensitivity of the issue. The documents from 2013 and 2014 do hint at the long-standing tensions between Qatar and the rest of the GCC, and they surely were an attempt at improving relations. But Qatar, overtly and covertly, persisted with its policies in contravention of the terms of the agreements. It continued to financially support Hezbollah and other terror groups, sponsor the Brotherhood in Egypt and retain Al Jazeera as an antagonistic media.

The leaked documents provide an insight into why ties with Qatar have been cut and put the action taken against Qatar in the right perspective. The countries led by Saudi Arabia issued a statement saying the documents “confirm beyond any doubt” Qatar’s failure to meet its commitments and it’s in full violation of its pledges. They stressed that the 13 demands submitted to Qatar were originally stated in the Riyadh and Supplementary agreements. Qatar now needs to up its efforts and take concrete decisions if it wishes to remain in the fold. Though promises to change had earlier been taken at face value, this time around Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt will not accept them. Now they want to see change — real change — in behaviour before they lighten the pressure on Qatar.