(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI, 14th July, 2017 (WAM) -- For the past month, Qatar has had ample opportunity to re-affirm and renew its commitment to the international community that it no longer supports nor gives voice to individuals and groups that spread extremism and terror, says an editorial in a local English language daily.
Dubai-based Gulf News said that indeed, to this end, the four brotherly Arab nations of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt have exercised their respective national sovereignty rights, closing their airspace and territorial waters to Qatar aircraft and vessels, and exercised other diplomatic measures to make the Government of Qatar see the error of its ways. "The four nations have not taken these steps lightly, and they are united in making sure that Qatar lives up to its responsibilities and undertakings and agree once more to ensure that it no longer aids and abets, either through moral, logistical, financial or media means, any individual or group who are intent on undermining governments through extremism, sedition or terror."
The publication of handwritten documents from Riyadh summits of 2013 and 2014 show that the Emir of Qatar, by signing on to the mutually negotiated accords, agreed with these aims of counteracting the forces of extremism and terror. "The actions of Qatar, however, have undermined his signature, and the need of the four brotherly Arab nations to take these recent collective and responsible measures against Doha show just how far Qatar has drifted from the letter, sentiment and spirit of the Riyadh undertakings," read the editorial.
In recent days, the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, has visited Qatar and left with a signed memorandum of understanding that it is opposed to terrorism and will help dry up financing for extremists and extremist causes.
"Let's be clear," the newspaper wrote, and said, that Qatar has signed the US-inspired MoU is noteworthy. "Any international effort or measure to undermine funding for extremists is a worthy initiative. But do not forget for one moment that this is not the first time that Qatar has inked such a document the signature of the Emir of Qatar is on both handwritten agreements from Riyadh, dating back to 2013 and 2014. If anything, it simply shows that Qatar will sign anything if it so suits its aims, and that includes cheques for those who spread sedition, extremism and terror."
"Do not forget this either: The MoU was signed just days after the Government of Qatar filed a half-hearted response through Kuwait to the foreign ministers of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt meeting in Cairo. That response wasn't enough. And neither is another signature on another promise not to fund and support terror," the editorial concluded.
WAM/Hazem Hussein/MOHD AAMIR
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