For nine months now, the anti-terror quartet of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a series of diplomatic and economic measures on Qatar in an attempt to make the government in Doha cease and desist its aiding and abetting of those who spread terror, extremism and sedition across the wider region.
Over the past nine months, the quartet has consistently asked Qatar to accede to 13 reasonable measures than would ensure it abides by its previously stated commitments to anti-terror treaties and agreements to its brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and to its wider allies in the international fight against terror.
But over these past nine months too, Qatar has been consistent in its refusal to move on any of these 13 elements, instead terming the closure of the quartet’s sovereign sea and air spaces to Qatari vessels and aircraft as “a blockade”. It simply refuses to acknowledge the preponderance of evidence that persons, organisations and charities who get shelter and voice within its border are responsible for acts of terrorism, the dissemination of sedition and the spread of extremism. And that is regrettable.
What is also regrettable is that the leadership in Qatar has steadfastly refused to avail of the good offices of the Emir of Kuwait to bring an end to this diplomatic chapter. It seems to have little if any interest in bringing this episode to a close, nor is it seemingly intent on restoring brother relations with its GCC neighbours. And that is unfortunate.
What is also unfortunate is that Qatar has steadfastly refused to discuss the transgressions committed by those persons, organisations and charities. and it continues to offer them airtime on its state-run propaganda channels. Simply put, it hasn’t taken any of the ample opportunities available to it to come clean, and reset relations. And that is a mistake.
What is a mistake too is that instead of opening channels of communications either through Kuwait or with the quartet directly, the leadership in Doha has deliberately chosen to try and court support at any international level it can muster, feted foreign governments, and taken to a plethora of plenary meetings in an ill-advised attempt to internationalise this dispute between Arab neighbours and brothers.
If Qatar is truly looking for a solution to this impasse, it need look no further than to the quartet or indeed Kuwait’s long-standing offers of mediation. It is a mistake to look further afield for any resolution.
