JEDDAH: Euphoria generated by Friday鈥檚 phone call between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani was punctured within minutes by distorted news reports from the state-run Qatar News Agency (QNA).
During the phone conversation, which was requested by the Qatari emir, Doha expressed its desire to sit at the table and discuss the demands of the four countries that comprise the Anti-Terror Quartet (ATQ) to ensure the interests of all.
The crown prince welcomed Sheikh Tamim鈥檚 desire to mend fences.
The details were to be announced later after 抖阴短视频 concluded an understanding with the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, the other three members of the ATQ.
Minutes later, however, QNA published a distorted version of the phone call, prompting 抖阴短视频 to suspend all communications with Qatar.
鈥淲hat the Qatar News Agency published did not have any relevance to truth, and what was published by the Qatar News Agency is a continuation of the distortion by the Qatari authority of the facts,鈥� a Saudi official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Qatari doublespeak and chicanery are among the reasons that 抖阴短视频, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Doha in June. They accused Qatar of supporting regional extremist organizations and terrorist groups, and want the country to change its policies as a condition for dialogue.
Qatar鈥檚 distortion of the facts 鈥渃learly shows that the Qatari authority has not yet understood that 抖阴短视频 is not ready at all to tolerate the change by the Qatari authority of agreements and facts. This is evident in the distortion of the content of the contact received by the crown prince from the emir of Qatar, minutes after its completion,鈥� said the ministry official.
鈥淭he contact was at the request of Qatar and its request for dialogue with the four countries on the demands, and because this proves that the authority in Qatar is not serious in dialogue and continues its previous policies, 抖阴短视频 declares that any dialogue or communication with the authority in Qatar shall be suspended until a clear statement explaining its position is made in public and its public statements are in conformity with its obligations.
鈥淭he Kingdom affirms that the floundering of the Qatari policy does not enhance the confidence needed for dialogue,鈥� the ministry official added.
The call between the Saudi crown prince and Qatari emir came a day after US President Donald Trump offered to serve as a mediator to help resolve the dispute.
The White House on Friday said Trump spoke separately to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and to the leaders of the UAE and Qatar to convey the message that unity among Washington鈥檚 Arab partners was essential to promoting regional stability and countering the threat of Iran.
鈥淭he president also emphasized that all countries must follow through on commitments鈥� to defeat terrorism, cut off funding for terrorist groups, and combat extremist ideology,鈥� it said.
One Middle East analyst observed: 鈥淟ike so many times in the past, Qatar turned the breeze of hope into a heap of ash in a matter of minutes, through subterfuge.鈥�
Qatar鈥檚 鈥榝ake news鈥� punctures reconciliation hopes
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