FM objects to labelling ‘boycott’ as ‘blockade’

Manama : Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa yesterday took exception to describing the “boycott” by anti-terror Quartet as “blockade” by Qatari authorities.

“If the Qatari officials are insisting on using the word blockade and that their country is besieged, they should allow an independent investigation into the so-called blockade,” Shaikh Khalid said on his official Twitter page.

Shaikh Khalid’s statements followed the Qatari allegations against the four countries - Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt - claiming that a “blockade” is being implemented against Qatar and that the four states are applying “uncalled for sanctions” against Doha.

This comes amidst the biggest diplomatic crisis within the GCC states since its establishment more than three decades ago.

The Qatari government has been proven to be a supporter of terrorist groups in fellow GCC and Arab countries. Hence, the four countries, along with other fellow Arab and Islamic state have decided to “boycott” or minimise all relations with Qatar and not “blockade”.

Shaikh Khalid had asked his Qatari counterpart few days back to fulfill his duties and ensure that his country sticks to the principles mentioned in the Riyadh Agreements in 2013 and 2014. The principles were related to non-violation of the sovereignty of any state, the agreement over mutual obligations rather than orders, in addition to reaching a solution in accordance with international law.