DOHA: Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani took the first step to initiate talks with four Arab states that have been pitting against his country. In his first speech since Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, the emir said life was continuing as normal despite the unjust “siege”.
In the televised speech, he said, “Qatar is fighting terrorism relentlessly and without compromise, and the international community recognises this.” The speech came mere hours after the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US was satisfied with Qatar's efforts to implement an agreement aimed at combating terror financing, and urged the four states to lift their “land blockade”. Speaking in a calm tone, he said, “The phase that Qatar is going through is very significant in terms of opportunities not only to build, but to fill gaps and correct mistakes. As you know, we are not afraid to analyse a mistake and correct it.”
While an official statement is yet to be released from the four Arab countries, a Saudi royal court advisor shunned it as a piece of literary work written by a school student. “Had it been written by a student in middle school he would have flunked,” Saud al-Qahtani wrote on Twitter. Many analysts denounced the speech. Ali al-Naimi, editor of an online news website said, “This is a speech of obstinacy which sends messages that Qatar will not stop supporting terrorism.”
Senior analyst at Geopolitical Futures, Kamran Bokhari said the government in Doha didn't want to appear intransigent. “By being flexible, Qatar is trying to make the other side look bad. In many ways, this has been the Qatari position all along, they will not compromise on their right to pursue an independent foreign policy but are willing to reach a negotiated settlement.”
Sheikh Tamim hailed his people for their spirit of solidarity, harmony and defence, and called for an opening of the economy saying this is no longer a “luxury” but an obligation. “I don't want to underestimate the pain and suffering that the blockade has inflicted, and I hope that such an approach in dealing with brothers ends. This approach has harmed all of the Gulf Corporation Council's countries and their image in the world.”
