ABU DHABI // Diplomacy remains the priority in resolving the dispute with Qatar, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on Saturday, but the GCC member could be expelled from the regional bloc if demands for changes to its policies are not met.
"The alternative is not escalation, the alternative is parting of ways, because it is very difficult for us to maintain a collective grouping," Mr Gargash told reporters in Dubai.
"This is not about regime change, this about behavioural change," he added.
Resolving the crisis through diplomacy – which is being led within the GCC by Kuwait – is still a priority, despite Qatar’s leaking of a list of 13 demands on Friday, Mr Gargash said. But, he added, this leaking had undermined mediation efforts.
"The mediators’ ability to shuttle between the parties and try and reach a common ground has been compromised by this leak," he said. "Their success is very dependent on their ability to move but not in the public space."
After mounting pressure from the US state department to present a precise – and "reasonable" – list of demands to Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt sent a list, via Kuwaiti mediators, that detailed far-reaching requirements amounting to a complete reorientation of Doha’s foreign policy and strategy for projecting its influence.
The four countries claim that Qatar backs extremist forces in the region, including Islamist parties, and say its regional policies attempt to undermine their collective security for Doha’s own gain. Qatari officials deny allegations that they fund terrorism and say the four countries’ motivations are political. Qatar’s foreign minister also said last week, before the list of demands was submitted, that his country would not negotiate until the economic boycott imposed on June 5 by its three GCC neighbours was lifted.
It is not clear if the list of demands, submitted on Thursday, is a starting point for talks or if they are non-negotiable, but Qatar was given 10 days to respond.
The demands include the closure of Qatar’s Al Jazeera news network and other Doha-backed media outlets, the shutting of a permanent Turkish military base, and ending support to the Muslim Brotherhood and affiliated groups. The countries have also demanded that Doha significantly scale back its ties with Iran.
Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry said on Friday it was studying the list "in order to prepare an appropriate response".
Bahraini foreign minister Khalid Al Khalifa said on Twitter that while the countries taking action against Qatar respected its sovereignty, they would not allow it to attempt to interfere in others’ internal affairs or to support terrorism.
The US, the most important international partner for Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, is seen as having a key role to play in bringing about a resolution. But so far the White House, state department and Pentagon have not appeared to be in agreement on how to proceed.
US president Donald Trump initially backed the moves against Qatar, while secretary of state Rex Tillerson has taken on the role of chief US mediator, calling for the demands on Doha to be "reasonable and actionable".
The US military including the defence secretary has repeatedly backed Qatar, and praised its cooperation against terrorist groups. The US military agreed to a deal for up to 36 F-15 fighter jets last week, and completed joint naval exercises with Qatari forces. The largest US base in the region is in Qatar, and 11,000 US forces are stationed there.
Mr Tillerson has participated in dozens of phone calls and meetings with Gulf leaders during his mediation efforts, but it increasingly appears that Qatar’s bid to bring the US more directly into talks is not gaining traction.
"We believe it’s a family issue and that they should work out. If we can help facilitate those discussions, then so be it," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Friday. "But this is something that they want to and should work out for themselves."
tkhan@thenational.ae
Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Sunday
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Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
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12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
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6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
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