UAE: US, European guarantees needed to solve crisis

A top Emirati diplomat said on Saturday that US and European guarantees would be needed to monitor any future agreement aimed at ending a row between Qatar and its neighbours.

The dispute erupted when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and others broke ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of backing extremism. Doha denies the claim.

The UAE state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said the dispute could be resolved "through diplomacy if Qatar renounces its support for extremism and terrorism".

"We don't want European mediation, and I don't think the Europeans want to be mediators. Their role should be to put pressure on Qatar," said Gargash.

"If Qatar follows the path of wisdom... we would need a system of guarantees and controls" in order to implement an accord with Doha, he said, calling for "European and American guarantees".

Gargash did not elaborate, but on Thursday the UAE and its allies Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain delivered a list of 13 demands to Qatar through mediator Kuwait, including one to close down Al-Jazeera broadcaster.

The last point on the list calls for the establishment of a 10-year mechanism, that would operate monthly for the first year, to ensure Qatar is complying with the agreement.

Doha was given 10 days to meet the ultimatum.

During a visit to Paris on Monday, Gargash called on Western nations including the United States, France, Germany and Britain to help monitor any agreement reached with Qatar to ensure they are not cooperating with jihadists.

"They have the diplomatic clout and technical know-how," Gargash said at the time.

Qatar on Saturday dismissed the 13 demands as unreasonable and an impingement on its sovereignty.

The United States and the European Union have called for unity in the Gulf.

Source: AFP