Dubai: Shaikh Abdullah Bin Ali Al Thani, the member of Qatar’s ruling family spearheading a Qatari movement to settle the Gulf crisis, said that silence amounted to letting down the homeland and the people.
“I have seen how the situation has reached its current status and we can see how silence has become a failure towards our homeland and our people,” he told the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya Television. “Our role today is to become supportive and helpful for all the good that comes to our country. We are working with the faithful men of Qatar to play our roles and take up the responsibility toward this crisis. We are looking for a solution through all possible means and we are confident that the leaders of the brotherly countries will not be late in standing with us.”
Shaikh Abdullah late on Sunday posted a message on his Twitter account calling the people of Qatar to hold an extended meeting and be “messengers of wisdom and peace and advocates for the cohesion of hearts.”
In his message, the first since he came in the public eye in August when he successfully mediated for easing restrictions on Qatari planning to perform Haj, he said the meeting would discuss ways to end the worsening crisis.
“Given the current situation, I call the wise and sagacious members of the family and dignitaries of the Qatari people to a brotherly, familial and national meeting in which we will discuss everything related to the crisis and what we can do to restore things to normal and to strengthen the Gulf cohesion,” he said.
Shaikh Abdullah said there has been communication with members of Qatar’s ruling family and other figures.
“Communication has not been disconnected. The response has been good, and I felt their concern to reach a solution toward this crisis at the soonest possible to spare us and our brotherly countries dangers.”
He added that he was still working on ways to hold the dialogue and posted his email for people to communicate with him, pledging discretion.
Two hours following his post on the social microblog, he said there have been contacts with him.
“As I am directly communicating with several members of the ruling family and prominent figures among the ruling family, there has been a response and a number of them have welcomed my call and are extensively requesting them. However, many of them want to remain anonymous for the time being, However, Shaikh Mubarak Bin Khalifa Bin Saud Bin Thani Al Thani, who contacted me moments ago, agreed to be named publicly. He strongly welcomed the call,” Shaikh Abdullah told Al Arabiya.
“In the statement, I left my contact and email details for those who want to communicate with me. What is important is that we succeed in the role in a national sense of the first degree. As I said, we will not publish any names unless with their express permission.”
Responses to the tweet by Shaikh Abdullah and the start of action to resolve the crisis have been welcomed by several users.
“You are the lifeline for Qatar and its indigenous people,” Dr Alwogayan posted. “Your stance with your brothers will always be recorded by history.”
Another user said that the statement by Shaikh Abdullah would be the much-anticipated breakthrough in the crisis.
“Two months ago, we wondered where the crisis in the Gulf will be heading. Now, we see the first signs of its settlement.”
