Targeting Egypt reason for boycotting Qatar: Bahrain FM

CAIRO – 8 September 2017: Bahrain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa revealed Friday that targeting Egypt’s safety is one the reasons behind the diplomatic rift with Qatar, saying that Egypt is the ‘pillar’ of Arab nation.

Arab diplomats reacted to Thursday’s press conference of Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwaitwith the U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House, where he announced that Kuwait’s mediation saved Qatar from military intervene. He also declared Doha’s readiness to negotiate, and bin Ahmed was one of them. He tweeted through his official Twitter account saying: “Our countries will never seek military action, but they will never allow any threat to their peoples and stability.”

“Targeting Egypt and its people by supporting terrorism, is one of the main reasons of Riyadh two agreements, and the latest boycott to Qatar, Egypt is the pillar of the nation and we will not accept any harm to its safety,” bin Ahmed added.

Bin Ahmed asserted that the military action was not an option for the Arab quartet, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAE, adding that Doha showed negative situation following Emir Jaber’s conference, they put obstacles before any negotiation attempt.

It has been three months since the Qatari crisis in the Middle East broke out, where Qatar was faced with the four Arab countries, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, cutting all diplomatic ties with Doha, amid allegations that Qatar is funding and supporting terrorism.