Parliamentarians doubt Doha’s intention to Kuwaiti mediation

CAIRO – 8 September 2017: “If Qatar responds positively to demands of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, this will mean its willingness to return to the Arab’s unified fabric,” member of Egypt’s parliamentary human rights committee Bakr Abo Gharib said on Friday.

Following the Arab quartet boycott of diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar on June 5 over its support for extremists and funding of terrorism, many foreign parties hurried to contain the Gulf crisis, most notably the Emir of Kuwait who is doing sincere efforts to solve the crisis.

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad revealed on Friday that Qatar is ready to meet the quartet’s 13 demands.

Abo Gharib stressed if Qatar applies the quartet’s demands, the four countries will open their arms immediately, adding that Qatar has to shut down Al-Jazeera network first.

“Egyptians have strong bonds with the Qatari people. Many Egyptians are married to Qataris and work in Qatar; but the Doha political administration provokes crises with ours,” he stressed.

MP Hamdy Bakheet said Egypt’s firm stance against terrorism and countries funding extremists has proven its strength.

“The U.S. administration has attempted to pressure Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to change their stance towards Qatar through the American aid reduction to Egypt, spreading cyber allegations that Riyadh funds extremists and Abu Dhabi’s image defamation,” Bakheet added on Friday.

He asserted the four countries should hold to their stance firm and do not give in to foreign pressures until Doha responds to their demands.

Bakheet does not believe Qatar’s good intention to comply with the Arab 13 demands and to accept the Kuwaiti mediation, adding that “Doha’s alleged acceptance of the Kuwaiti mediation is a political maneuver.”