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Four Arab countries say they are ready for Qatar dialogue with conditions

 

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan talk as foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt meet in Manama, Bahrain July 30, 2017. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

 

DUBAI (Reuters) - The four Arab countries that have cut ties with Qatar said on Sunday they were ready for talks to tackle the dispute if Doha showed willingness to deal with their demands.

 

The foreign ministers of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates met in the Bahraini capital, Manama, to discuss the crisis that has raised tensions across the region.

 

The Saudi-led bloc cut ties with the Gulf state on June 5, accusing it of backing militant groups and cosying up to their arch-foe Iran, allegations Doha denies.

 

Diplomatic efforts led by Kuwait and backed by Western powers have failed to end the dispute, in which the four states have severed travel and communications with Qatar.

 

"The four countries are ready for dialogue with Qatar with the condition that it announces its sincere willingness to stop funding terrorism and extremism and its commitment to not interfere in other countries' foreign affairs and respond to the 13 demands," Bahrain's foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, told a joint news conference after the meeting.

 

They announced no new economic sanctions on the Gulf state.

 

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain previously issued a list of 13 demands for Qatar, which include curtailing its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, shutting down the Doha-based Al Jazeera channel, closing a Turkish military base and downgrading its relations with Gulf enemy Iran.

 

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Qatar was not serious in tackling the countries' demands.

 

"We are ready to talk with Qatar on the implementation of the demands, on the implementation of the principles, if Qatar is serious, but it has been clear that it is not," he said.

 

The four countries have also listed "six principles" they want Qatar to adopt.

 

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani dismissed Sunday's statement from the four countries and said sanctions were violating international laws.

 

"There isn't a clear vision (from Manama's meeting), there is only a stubborn policy from the blockading countries and refusal to admit that these are illegal actions," Sheikh Mohammed told Al Jazeera TV channel.

 

Earlier on Sunday, al-Hayat newspaper said, citing unidentified Gulf sources, that the four countries "are expected to impose sanctions that will gradually affect the Qatari economy."

 

Saudi Arabia has closed its land border with Qatar, while all four countries have cut air and sea links with Doha, demanding the gas-exporting country take several measures to show it was changing its policies.

 

Turkey and Iran have stepped in to provide fresh produce, poultry and dairy products to Qatar instead of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with Oman providing alternative ports to those in the UAE.

 

The four Arab countries added 18 groups and individuals they say are linked to Qatar to their "terrorist" lists last week.

 

(Reporting by Sami Aboudi and Omar Fahmy; Additional reporting by Mostafa Hashem in Doha; Editing by Jane Merriman and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-31

[Dave67]

Couldn't agree more, Saudis Running round in circles

 

http://www.gulf-times.com/story/558540/Latest-Saudi-potshot-is-proof-of-failing-blockade-

 

 

[coulson]

In other words, they're not willing to engage in talks.

[Dave67]

Just now, coulson said:

In other words, they're not willing to engage in talks.

They are not talking because of the "Face" issue. 

 

Good article about Qatar going through the motions to Take the embargo WTO claiming the blockade is illegal. The only way Saudi and others can dodge a bullet would be to state blockade is due National security issues. If they do that it will be the first time any country has made that claim.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/31/qatar-makes-legal-complaint-to-wto-over-gulf-trade-boycott

 

 

[Dave67]

UAE want Taliban office

 

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170801-leaks-uae-wanted-to-host-the-talibans-embassy-instead-of-qatar/

[Morch]

8 hours ago, Dave67 said:

They are not talking because of the "Face" issue. 

 

Good article about Qatar going through the motions to Take the embargo WTO claiming the blockade is illegal. The only way Saudi and others can dodge a bullet would be to state blockade is due National security issues. If they do that it will be the first time any country has made that claim.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/31/qatar-makes-legal-complaint-to-wto-over-gulf-trade-boycott

 

 

 

Well, "they" would apply to pretty much all sides involved. And, of course, it's quite probable that communications are exchanged anyway, behind the scenes.

 

Dodging the bullet? The Matrix style, perhaps, considering the time frames -  60 days before legalities can be launched, then years of litigation. And that's provided things at WTO go Qatar's way.

 

 

 

 

[Morch]

49 minutes ago, Dave67 said:

UAE want Taliban office

 

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170801-leaks-uae-wanted-to-host-the-talibans-embassy-instead-of-qatar/

 

The original story from the NYT:

 

Persian Gulf Rivals Competed to Host Taliban, Leaked Emails Show

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/world/middleeast/uae-qatar-taliban-emails.html

 

Guess there will be quite a few skeletons tossed out of closets until this is over. Reading these reports gives some idea just how complicates things are, and how many of them aren't what they seem to be. Also gives some insight as to how conspiracy theories thrive in the region.

[Dave67]

 Qatari Dunkirk spirit

 

Today, it is evident that Qatar has successfully weathered the blockade. It was a tough test, but looking back, over the 50 days the economy has been resilient and sufficient. Qataris and non-Qatari residents have only grown prouder in unity and solidarity with His Highness Emir Sheikh Tamim Al Thani. Numerous building size murals of the Emir, Sheikh Tamim, signed by the residents demonstrate the unity and love in response to the smear campaigns launched against Qatar.

 

Full Article 

 

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/what-should-we-learn-from-the-blockade-against-qatar.aspx?pageID=238&nID=116271&NewsCatID=396

[Morch]

5 hours ago, Dave67 said:

 Qatari Dunkirk spirit

 

Today, it is evident that Qatar has successfully weathered the blockade. It was a tough test, but looking back, over the 50 days the economy has been resilient and sufficient. Qataris and non-Qatari residents have only grown prouder in unity and solidarity with His Highness Emir Sheikh Tamim Al Thani. Numerous building size murals of the Emir, Sheikh Tamim, signed by the residents demonstrate the unity and love in response to the smear campaigns launched against Qatar.

 

Full Article 

 

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/what-should-we-learn-from-the-blockade-against-qatar.aspx?pageID=238&nID=116271&NewsCatID=396

 

Quoting opinion columns, editorials and op-eds from sources sympathetic to Qatar's side is all very well. Then again, doubt anyone in their right mind actually though Qatar will quickly capitulate to limited economic sanctions. Sanctions, even wider-ranged and strictly enforced take time to make their mark.

Edited August 3, 2017 by Morch

[Dave67]

1 minute ago, Morch said:

 

Quoting opinion columns, editorials and op-eds from sources sympathetic to Qatar's side is all very well. Then again, doubt anyone in their right mind actually though Qatar will quickly capitulate to limited economic sanctions. Sanctions, even wider-ranged and strictly enforced take time to make their mark.

I'm quoting it because I am experiencing it and it hits the nail on the head. 

[Morch]

48 minutes ago, Dave67 said:

I'm quoting it because I am experiencing it and it hits the nail on the head. 

 

That's ok, if a bit of an echo chamber ring to it. All I'm saying is that handling the situation short term, or how the public/elites react to the situation short term, is one thing. Drawing long term conclusions or making bold statements, is another.

 

To be clear, doubt the sanctions, as they are, will bring Qatar to its knees. And further, despite the views of some posters, I doubt that it was a realistically expected outcome. More of a shock and awe thing, aimed at delivering a message. The miscalculation was more to do with regional and international response and related information becoming public. This left either side of this conflict up its own tree without a ladder.

 

One can take the amount of supportive opinion pieces (such as quoted above) as a true indication of Qatari resilience, or alternatively, if acknowledging sources, that there a message being pushed very hard.

[ilostmypassword]

32 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

 

To be clear, doubt the sanctions, as they are, will bring Qatar to its knees. And further, despite the views of some posters, I doubt that it was a realistically expected outcome. More of a shock and awe thing, aimed at delivering a message.

 

Yes, if there's one thing we can expect from Jared of Arabia, it's realistic expectations.

[Morch]

30 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

Yes, if there's one thing we can expect from Jared of Arabia, it's realistic expectations.

At least we can rely on you pushing this nonsense moniker on each related topic.

Miscalculation is pretty much the norm in ME relations. As said, I don't think that there was an real expectation Qatar will capitulate. The only way this would have been a semi-possible scenario is if the US was to firmly align with SA, to the point of relocating its base from Qatar. Could be that the Saudis were hoping for that, but IMO, there was no expectation things would go that far. Had negotiations been kept away from public eye, things could have been sorted without the lengthy stand-off and hyped rhetoric.

 

[ilostmypassword]

2 minutes ago, Morch said:

At least we can rely on you pushing this nonsense moniker on each related topic.

Miscalculation is pretty much the norm in ME relations. As said, I don't think that there was an real expectation Qatar will capitulate. The only way this would have been a semi-possible scenario is if the US was to firmly align with SA, to the point of relocating its base from Qatar. Could be that the Saudis were hoping for that, but IMO, there was no expectation things would go that far. Had negotiations been kept away from public eye, things could have been sorted without the lengthy stand-off and hyped rhetoric.

 

You're assuming of course that the current de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia is a reasonable person and not an incompetent hothead.  There's strong evidence to the contrary. 

[Morch]

5 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

You're assuming of course that the current de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia is a reasonable person and not an incompetent hothead.  There's strong evidence to the contrary. 

 

No, you are assuming that I assume this or that. Doesn't make it so. Not accepting your take doesn't mean holding the exact opposite opinion.

[Dave67]

Qatar Ambassador to the US speaks about Saudi and UAE and their role in funding terrorism

 

http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/macdill/qatari-ambassador-in-tampa-for-centcom-meeting-defends-his-nation-against/2332494