Calls for European mediation in Qatari crisis

CAIRO - 19 July 2017: European Analysts demanded an effective stance from Europe to support Arab countries’ efforts in countering Qatar’s practices of funding terrorism, during an international press conference held in Brussels on Monday. They met to discuss the Qatar crisis.

The conference was attended by a number of European analysts including Richard Burchill, the Director of Research and Engagement for the Abu Dhabi think tank TRENDS, and John Duhig, a Senior Policy Advisor at the European Foundation for Democracy. They discussed Qatar’s stance with its neighbors and its relevance and impact to Europe.

During the conference, Burchill said that there are 19 documents confirming Qatar's support for terrorism and extremist groups directly in the Arab world.

Burchill rejected the claim from Qatar that it is making an effort to fight terrorism. He confirmed that there are five entities in Qatar accused of this crime, and that they include Qatari Ministry of Endowments, Doha Apple Company, Sheikh Eid Al Thani Charitable Association, and Al Jazeera channel.

The researcher said that these boycott measures did not target the Qatari people as promoted by Doha. On June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain cut ties with Qatar, based on accusations of financing terrorism and extremist groups.

He further asserted that there should be efforts to counter and overcome terrorism and extremism because the Gulf countries are disappointed due to Qatar’s long history in supporting terrorism.

“Qatar needs to cooperate with its neighbors and the wider world in stopping support for terrorism and extremism,” Burchill concluded.