Tamim seeks Trump's help in Gulf crisis

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Thu, 21 Sep 2017 - 12:21 GMT

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Thu, 21 Sep 2017 - 12:21 GMT

Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

CAIRO – 21 September 2017: Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad seeks President Donald Trump’s mediation in his crisis with the Arab states, which severed diplomatic ties with Qatar over terrorism accusations, according to Qatarileaks website.

Qatarileaks published leaks of the meeting between Tamim and Trump on Monday, on the sidelines of the UN Assembly, “As you said, Mr. President, we have a problem with our neighbors,” Tamim said, adding that with Trump’s mediation, “hopefully we can find a solution for this problem.”

Tamim stressed solid Qatari-American relationship after Trump seemed to lean more towards the Saudi position at the beginning of the crisis.

Trump, who showed willingness to mediate the worst standoff in years between U.S.-allied Arab states and Qatar, said he had a “very strong feeling” the conflict would be over “pretty quickly.”

Observers described Sheikh Tamim's address to the UN Assembly as “disappointing,” after he affirmed that he would continue his relations with Iran, which is considered as the major supporter of terrorism in the region, because Iran constantly intervenes in the domestic affairs of its neighbors, and supports various terror groups.

Speaking to Sky News Arabia, Qatari opposition figure Ali Al Dahneem said the speech of Sheikh Tamim was "trivial and disappointing to the GCC peoples in general and the Qatari people in particular."

Al Dahneem said Sheikh Tamim spoke about terrorism as if Doha was a victim, not a major funder of terrorism.

Anwar Gargash, UAE’s state minister for foreign affairs, commented on Tamim’s address on his Twitter account, saying that it came with nothing new and that it is considered another missed opportunity.




On June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain have turned on Qatar, shutting down of all ports of entry over accusations of the country’s support and sponsorship of terrorism, allegations Doha denies.

Since then, Qatar has resisted reconciliation attempts and has not shown any efforts in disassociating itself from terrorist groups that were proven to be harbored and financially supported by Doha.

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