Qatari FM claims seeking Egypt's security, safety

CAIRO – 20 November 2017: While Qatar is involved in funding terrorist groups leading attacks that have killed thousands of Egyptian army and police forces over the past few years and sheltering Muslim Brotherhood leaders, its foreign minister claims that they seek Egypt's safety and security.

In statement that does not reflect reality, Qatar Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Thani revealed that Egypt’s stability and security is a part of Qatar's interest, denying the Qatari regime's responsibility for cutting relations with Egypt, according to Russian agency Sputnik.

During his speech at the Nixon Center in Washington, Al-Thani ignored his state's support and funding of Islamist groups, as well as its allowing Iranian interference in the Gulf states’ affairs.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on November 15 warning its citizens from traveling to Egypt for security measures.

Qatar has been hit by its biggest diplomatic crisis in years after Arab nations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, cut ties with the peninsula, accusing it of destabilizing the region with its support of Islamist groups and allowing Iranian interference in the Gulf states’ affairs.

The Arab quartet halted all land, air and sea traffic with Qatar, and withdrew their diplomats and ambassadors from the Qatari peninsula. The Arab quartet issued 13 demands to Doha – then shortened to six principles – including closing Al-Jazeera channel, curbing relations with Iran and shutting a Turkish military base.

After several states severed ties with Doha, Egyptian politicians and social media demanded probing Qatar internationally, accusing the Gulf country of involvement in funding terrorist groups, which have launched attacks killing thousands of Egyptian army and police forces over the past few years since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with the state of Qatar on June 5 on charges of supporting terrorism and extremist groups in the region. The Qatari regime is responsible for the lives of victims who have been killed by terrorist operations supported by Qatar in Egypt and other Arab countries, Egyptian Parliamentarian Mohamed Abou Hamed announced on several occasions recently.

Since then, Kuwait has played the role of mediator to put an end to this rift. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held several meetings with the disputed parties, but the discussions have not yet led to a settlement.