Saudi FM: solution of Qatar’s crisis is in Doha’s hands not UN

The four Arab countries imposing sanctions on Qatar held a ministerial-level consultation meeting  in New York yesterday on the sidelines of the UN general assembly. The move was intended to show unity and voice readiness for a political solution to the dispute, as soon as Qatar committed to implementing the demands put forward by the group.

The meeting took place at Egypt’s UN mission in Manhattan on the eve of US president Donald Trump meeting with the Qatari Emir. Arriving first was the UAE foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, shortly followed by his Saudi counterpart Adel Al Jubeir. The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, the Bahraini foreign minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry and UAE’s Ambassador to the US, Yousef Al Otaiba, were also in attendance.

Talks lasted for over 90 minutes, and Sheikh Abdullah was the first to depart, without speaking to reporters. Mr Gargash signaled a 'thumbs up', and told The National on his way out that the meeting “was excellent”. 

The Egyptians, briefing reporters after the meeting, described it as “fruitful and very positive”. Mr Shoukry said they convened to “show solidarity in our position, and [to show] our continued readiness to for a political solution to resolve this crisis as long as Qatar commits to implement the 13 demands and six principles.”

A senior Arab diplomat told The National that a Qatari commitment to implementing the demands “could open the door for dialogue” to begin to resolve the 105 day-long crisis. US President Donald Trump has called for dialogue and will be meeting the Emir of Qatar today on the margins of UN General Assembly meeting. 

Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that Qatar’s failure to stop supporting terrorism and interfering in other countries’ internal affairs was one of the causes of the crisis with the Anti-Terrorism Quartet.

He stressed that resolving the crisis was in Doha’s hands, ruling out any role for the United Nations in the ongoing dispute. His comments came following a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.

During the meeting, the two officials discussed latest developments in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Myanmar, in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Washington Prince Khaled bin Salman. Jubeir also met with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the US State Department headquarters.

The meeting touched on bilateral relations and developments on the regional and international levels.  The Saudi foreign affairs minister also discussed with his Bahraini counterpart, Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa regional and world issues, as well as items on the agenda of the UN General Assembly.

He also held separate meetings with Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Ekaterina Zaharieva, with whom he discussed bilateral relations.