Qatari Foreign Minister Shiekh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani slammed Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates policies in Africa and Middle East region adding that Doha will not back US policies against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Qatar slams Saudi Arabia, UAE Mideast policies
11 Jun 2019 - 9:42
Qatari Foreign Minister Shiekh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani slammed Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates policies in Africa and Middle East region adding that Doha will not back US policies against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The two countries' plan to impose “stability” by supporting authoritarian governments and military councils in Africa, Egypt, Libya and throughout the Arab world is a recipe for chaos, he added.
The Qatari foreign minister also criticized hostile policies followed by Saudi and Emirati rulers toward Iran, saying their efforts to purportedly isolate the Islamic Republic were not working.
“Right now they are continuing with the same policy that has not worked for the last three years. I think we need to revisit this,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
The top diplomat touched on the recent summit in Mecca, which he attended, saying the final statement was not prepared either at an expert or ministerial level before being issued.
Sheikh Mohammed said contrary to Saudi claims, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was not united in its view of Iran.
Qatar also cannot fully support US policies on Iran because the Persian Gulf country views issues from a regional perspective, he said.
The current US position on Iran, he added, lacks any indication of a way forward, or any type of positive or constructive message.
Qatar is an archipelago of islands in the Persian Gulf, with its $1 billion Al Udeid Air Base hosting American troops.
Last month, the Trump administration escalated tensions after it decided to send a US Air Force bomber task force, including B-52 bombers, and 1,500 troops to the Middle East in response to an unspecified Iranian "threat."
“We don’t want to see any confrontation between the two powers, US and Iran, because we are stuck in the middle,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
The Qatari foreign minister was speaking to reporters only two days after his UAE counterpart Anwar Gargash argued against democratic revolutions, such as the one currently taking place in Sudan.
Addressing a conference in Bratislava, Gargash claimed that revolutions "all too often" strengthen extremists and heighten internal conflict.
Last week, Middle East Eye said the head of Sudan’s ruling military council had been given a “green light” by Saudi Arabia and its regional allies to go on the recent crackdown on peaceful protests.
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