Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammed Qarqash - File photo.
CAIRO – 4 July 2017: Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammed Qarqash said Tuesday that the Middle East region in facing a ‘historical turning point, which is not related to any country’s sovereignty.’
“It’s either commitment or separation. The main core of the current dispute is to enhance what we have in common as Arab countries; otherwise we would be destroying it,” Qarqash wrote on his twitter account Tuesday.
Earlier, he said in statements that in case the agreed deadline came to an end with no clear response from Qatar regarding the 13-demand list, there will be no more news or statements, “the economic pressures will be escalated gradually,” he said.
Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani handed the Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Doha’s response to the Arab countries’ demands Monday. The written message however, was not delivered yet to the governments of the Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid Sunday, a meeting includes the Foreign ministers of the four states will be held Wednesday in Cairo to follow up with the latest escalations regarding the dispute. “The meeting will discuss the government’s vision regarding the current and the coming escalations.” Abu Zeid said.
On Monday, Sheikh Sabah of Kuwait asked the 4 countries to extend the deadline given to Doha for 48 hours, which was approved by the governments of Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia shortly later.
Qatar’s relations with several Arab and Gulf States have been strained since May 24, when the Qatari state-run news agency reported Sheikh Tamim bin Hammad Al-Thani’s statements regarding Gulf foreign policy with Iran, as “unwise.”
On June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Libya and Yemen decided to cut all diplomatic ties with Qatar, hurling allegations the state supports terrorism. Ports and airspace were cut off to Qatari vessels.
On June 6, the Kuwaiti Emir started a tour that included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in an attempt to mediate between the three countries.
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