Saudi, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt cut ties with Qatar over terrorism

Saudi, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt cut ties with Qatar over terrorism

The UAE has given Qatar’s diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi 48 hours to leave the country

Latest developments: What we know so far

The UAE has given Qatar’s diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi 48 hours to leave the country after 
what it said where “Doha’s several policies which destabilizes the security and stability of 
the region and manipulates commitments”. The UAE informed Qatari citizens they had 14 days to
leave the UAE. Citizens from Qatar have also been banned from passing through the UAE. 
Emiratis are now banned from visiting or even passing by Qatar at all means.The Saudi state 
news agency SPA said Riyadh had closed its borders, severing land, sea and air contact with 
Qatar and largely isolating it. It cited officials as saying it was to "protect its national 
security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism".Etihad Airways said it would suspend all 
flights to and from Doha from 02:45 local time on Tuesday Bahrain’s state news agency said the 
country was cutting ties with Qatar because Doha was “shaking the security and stability of 
Bahrain and meddling in its affairs”. Saudi Arabia said Qatari troops would be pulled from the
ongoing Saudi-led coalition that is fighting Al Houthi militia in Yemen.

Decision will not affect fight against terrorism: US

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis meanwhile said they did 
not expect the decision to affect the fight against terrorism but urged the countries to 
address their differences. “I do not expect that this will have any significant impact … on 
the unified fight against terrorism in the region or globally,” Tillerson told reporters in 
Sydney.

UAE supports statements of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on Qatar

Abu Dhabi (WAM): The United Arab Emirates has issued the following statement:
“The UAE affirms its complete commitment and support to the Gulf Cooperation Council and to 
the security and stability of the GCC States. Within this framework, and based on the 
insistence of the State of Qatar to continue to undermine the security and stability of the 
region and its failure to honour international commitments and agreements, it has been decided
to take the following measures that are necessary for safeguarding the interests of the GCC 
States in general and those of the brotherly Qatari people in particular:
1-In support of the statements issued by the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain and sisterly Kingdom 
of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates severs all relations with the State of Qatar, 
including breaking off diplomatic relations, and gives Qatari diplomats 48 hours to leave the
UAE.
2-Preventing Qatari nationals from entering the UAE or crossing its points of entry, giving 
Qatari residents and visitors in the UAE 14 days to leave the country for precautionary 
security reasons. The UAE nationals are likewise banned from traveling to or staying in Qatar
or transiting through its territories.
3-Closure of UAE airspace and seaports for all Qataris in 24 hours and banning all Qatari 
means of transportation, coming to or leaving the UAE, from crossing, entering or leaving the
UAE territories, and taking all legal measures in collaboration with friendly countries and 
international companies with regards to Qataris using the UAE airspace and territorial waters
, from and to Qatar, for national security considerations.
The UAE is taking these decisive measures as a result of the Qatari authorities' failure to 
abide by the Riyadh Agreement on returning GCC diplomats to Doha and its Complementary 
Arrangement in 2014, and Qatar's continued support, funding and hosting of terror groups, 
primarily Islamic Brotherhood, and its sustained endeavours to promote the ideologies of 
Daesh and Al Qaeda across its direct and indirect media in addition to Qatar's violation of 
the statement issued at the US-Islamic Summit in Riyadh on May 21st, 2017 on countering 
terrorism in the region and considering Iran a state sponsor of terrorism. The UAE measures 
are taken as well based on Qatari authorities' hosting of terrorist elements and meddling in 
the affairs of other countries as well as their support of terror groups policies which are 
likely to push the region into a stage of unpredictable consequences.
While regretting the policies taken by the State of Qatar that sow seeds of sedition and 
discord among the region's countries, the UAE affirms its full respect and appreciation for 
the brotherly Qatari people on account of the profound historical, religious and fraternal 
ties and kin relations binding UAE and Qatari people."
Qatar regrets decision made by Saudi, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt

In a statement issued by the Qatari foreign ministry, the country said it regretted the 
decision by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain to cut diplomatic relations, according to
Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV. It also claimed that the decisions would “not affect the normal 
lives of citizens and residents”.

Four Arab states cut diplomatic ties with Qatar

Dubai: Four Arab states have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of destabilising the
region. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt  all announced they would withdraw their 
diplomatic staff from Qatar, while Saudi Arabia also said Qatari troops would be pulled from 
the ongoing war in Yemen

source gulfnews