UAE FM: Qatar needs to do more to improve confidence in what it signs

ABU DHABI - 13 July 2017: UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has welcomed Qatar's recent signing of an anti-terrorism agreement with the United States, but expressed concern that the Gulf nation might not follow through with it, WAM reported.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak on Thursday, Sheikh Abdullah said "The State of Qatar signed two agreements with the GCC countries in 1993 and 1994, but it did not abide by them."

"Qatar needs to do more to improve confidence in what it signs and what it actually implements," he added.

He continued "We of course welcome Qatar's signing of this agreement, but Qatar must also double its efforts to change the impression of many countries over its harbouring, supporting, and funding of terrorism, as well as for voicing extremist views, inciting violence and hatred."

"Our countries wish to achieve this, but only if Qatar is committed to changing this path," he added.

"We in the region have decided not to allow any kind of tolerance towards extremist groups, terrorist groups and hate groups," said Sheikh Abdullah.

"Our region has suffered enough, so when nations like Saudi Arabia and Egypt have decided to do that, we are optimistic," he said, adding that, "If Qatar wants to be a member of this alliance then they are more than welcome but if Qatar wants to be on the other side, then as we say in Arabic, it's time to say 'good bye'."

"We believe that there are two ways of dealing with things, whether to try and ease tension or try to address a problem," Sheikh Abdullah explained in response to a question about his expectations about the meeting between the US Secretary of State and foreign ministers of the four countries.

"We do not believe that an attempt to ease the tension will address the matter, but will lead to delaying the problem, which will lead to a doubling of the situation in the future," he said.

"At the same time, we realise that there have been mistakes in the past from all of us - even the United States committed these mistakes - even Europe committed these mistakes - when we decided one day to support the so-called Mujahideen in Afghanistan and then the matter was not resolved and Afghanistan suffered a civil war," he added.

"The same thing happened in Somalia and Iraq, and today we see it happening in Syria and Libya, and I think if we start to blame, and blame certain issues, it will not be ended," he said.

"The difference between our countries and Qatar is this: our countries are working with care and attention to confront and deter terrorism and extremism. It is true that our systems may not be the best possible situation, but the development of our systems, laws and structures significantly helps in countering these issues. However, the Qatari state is funding extremism, terrorism and fueling hatred, which provides these terrorists with shelter and a platform," he said.

"Of course we have to work better to counter extremism and terrorism and we need more allies and friends to face it," he said. "It is not fair to see that some countries want to fight and face extremism and terrorism, while others do not. What we are asking today from Qatar is what we ask of ourselves. We will not ask Qatar to take any action or steps we do not ask of, or commit to, ourselves as nations," he added. (MENA)