السعودية ومصر والإمارات والبحرين تعلن قطع علاقاتها الدبلوماسية مع قطر Six Arab governments, including Egypt, cut ties with Qatar over terrorism and 'meddling'

أعلنت كل من المملكة العربية السعودية ومصر والإمارات ومملكة البحرين، الاثنين 5 يونيو، قطع علاقاتها الدبلوماسية مع دولة قطر.

Yemen and Libya's eastern government have joined Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE in severing ties with Qatar on Monday morning, citing its support for Islamist groups and attempts at destabilization within the region

وجاء، في بيان وكالة الأنباء البحرينية، أن مملكة البحرين تعلن سحب بعثتها الدبلوماسية من الدوحة، وإمهال جميع أفراد البعثة القطرية 48 ساعة لمغادرة البلاد، مع استكمال تطبيق الإجراءات اللازمة. كما أمهلت حكومة البحرين المواطنيين القطريين 14 يوما لمغادرة أراضيها.

Six Arab governments, including Egypt, cut diplomatic ties with Qatar early on Monday morning, with Yemen and Libya's eastern-based government among the latest to join the joint effort to isolate Doha.

وأوردت وكالة الأنباء السعودية أن الرياض تقطع علاقاتها الدبلوماسية والقنصلية مع قطر، ونقلت عن مصدر مسؤول قوله إن المملكة قررت إغلاق كافة المنافذ البرية والبحرية والجوية، ومنع العبور في الأراضي والأجواء والمياه الإقليمية السعودية، والبدء بالإجراءات القانونية الفورية للتفاهم مع الدول الشقيقة والصديقة والشركات الدولية، لتطبيق هذا الإجراء بأسرع وقت ممكن، لكافة وسائل النقل، من وإلى دولة قطر، وذلك لأسباب تتعلق بالأمن الوطني السعودي.

The nations have cited Qatar's support for Islamist groups and alleged meddling in the affairs of other states.

The Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE were among those cutting relations with Qatar, further deepening a rift among members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, of which Qatar is a member.

بيان قطع الرياض لعلاقاتها الدبلوماسية مع قطر

تعلن المملكة العربية السعودية أن قطع علاقاتها مع قطر هدفه "حماية أمنها الوطني من مخاطر الإرهاب والتطرف"، ونتهم قطر بإرتكاب "انتهاكات جسيمة سرا وعلنا لشق الصف السعودي".

أن الرياض انطلاقاً من ممارسة حقوقها السيادية التي كفلها القانون الدولي، وحماية لأمنها الوطني من مخاطر الإرهاب والتطرف، فإنها قررت قطع العلاقات الدبلوماسية والقنصلية مع دولة قطر، كما قررت إغلاق كافة المنافذ البرية والبحرية والجوية، ومنع العبور في الأراضي والأجواء والمياه الإقليمية السعودية، والبدء بالإجراءات القانونية الفورية للتفاهم مع الدول الشقيقة والصديقة والشركات الدولية لتطبيق ذات الإجراء بأسرع وقت ممكن لكافة وسائل النقل من وإلى دولة قطر، وذلك لأسباب تتعلق بالأمن الوطني السعودي.

"السعودية اتخذت قرارها الحاسم هذا نتيجة للانتهاكات الجسيمة التي تمارسها السلطات في الدوحة، سرا وعلنا، طوال السنوات الماضية بهدف شق الصف الداخلي السعودي، والتحريض للخروج على الدولة، والمساس بسيادتها، واحتضان جماعات إرهابية وطائفية متعددة تستهدف ضرب الاستقرار في المنطقة"، ومنها جماعة (الإخوان المسلمين) و(داعش) و(القاعدة)، والترويج لأدبيات ومخططات هذه الجماعات عبر وسائل إعلامها بشكل دائم، ودعم نشاطات الجماعات الإرهابية المدعومة من إيران في محافظة القطيف من المملكة العربية السعودية، وفي مملكة البحرين الشقيقة وتمويل وتبني وإيواء المتطرفين الذين يسعون لضرب استقرار ووحدة الوطن في الداخل والخارج، واستخدام وسائل الإعلام التي تسعى إلى تأجيج الفتنة داخليا، كما اتضح للمملكة العربية السعودية الدعم والمساندة من قبل السلطات في الدوحة لميليشيا الحوثي الانقلابية، حتى بعد إعلان تحالف دعم الشرعية في اليمن.

"الرياض إتخذت هذا القرار تضامنا مع مملكة البحرين الشقيقة التي تتعرض لحملات وعمليات إرهابية مدعومة من قبل السلطات في الدوحة".

و"منذ عام 1995، بذلت المملكة العربية السعودية وأشقاؤها جهوداً مضنية ومتواصلة لحث السلطات في الدوحة على الالتزام بتعهداتها، والتقيد بالاتفاقيات، إلا أن هذه السلطات دأبت على نكث التزاماتها الدولية، وخرق الاتفاقات التي وقعتها تحت مظلة دول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية، بالتوقف عن الأعمال العدائية ضد المملكة، والوقوف ضد الجماعات والنشاطات الإرهابية ، وكان آخر ذلك عدم تنفيذها لاتفاق الرياض".

و أنه "إنفاذاً لقرار قطع العلاقات الدبلوماسية والقنصلية يمنع على المواطنين السعوديين السفر إلى دولة قطر، أو الإقامة فيها، أو المرور عبرها، وعلى المقيمين والزائرين منهم سرعة المغادرة خلال مدة لا تتجاوز 14 يوماً، كما تمنع، بكل أسف، لأسباب أمنية احترازية دخول أو عبور المواطنين القطريين إلى المملكة العربية السعودية، وتمهل المقيمين والزائرين منهم مدة 14 يوماً للمغادرة، مؤكدة التزامها وحرصها على توفير كل التسهيلات والخدمات للحجاج والمعتمرين القطريين".

و أن "المملكة العربية السعودية تؤكد أنها صبرت طويلاً رغم استمرار السلطات في الدوحة على التملص من التزاماتها، والتآمر عليها، حرصاً منها على الشعب القطري الذي هو امتداد طبيعي وأصيل لإخوانه في المملكة، وجزء من أرومتها، وستظل المملكة سنداً للشعب القطري الشقيق وداعمة لأمنه واستقراره بغض النظر عما ترتكبه السلطات في الدوحة من ممارسات عدائية".

The move began on Monday morning with Bahrain announcing that it was cutting diplomatic ties with Qatar and closing all transport links, according to Bahrain's state news agency. Bahrain cited alleged meddling in its internal affairs by Qatar.

Bahrain's action was followed by GCC ally Saudi Arabia, which said it was cutting ties on the grounds of "protection of national security", as announced by the Saudi state news agency.

ولم تمض دقائق حتى اتخذت القاهرة قرارا مشابها، يرتكز على ما تقول إنه دعم الدوحة للتنظيمات الإرهابية وتعزيزها بذور الفتنة والانقسام داخل المجتمعات العربية. وذلك وفق بيان صدر عن الخارجية المصرية.

The the SPA news agency said that Qatar “embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS and Al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly.”

The UAE, Yemen and Egypt then followed suit, with the eastern-based government of war-torn Libya finally joining the diplomatic action to isolate Qatar.

Egypt announced the closure of its airspace and seaports for all Qatari transportation to protect its national security, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

ثم سرعان ما أعلنت أبوظبي تأييد قرارات الدول السابقة ذكرها، فقررت بدورها إغلاق كافة المنافذ البحرية والجوية أمام الحركة القادمة والمغادرة إلى قطر خلال 24 ساعة.

وقالت وكالة أنباء الإمارات، على حسابها في موقع "تويتر": "الإمارات، تقرر قطع العلاقات مع قطر، بما فيها العلاقات الدبلوماسية وإمهال البعثة الدبلوماسية القطرية 48 ساعة لمغادرة البلاد".

وأضافت أن "الإمارات تقرر منع دخول وعبور المواطنين القطريين إلى الدولة... الإمارات تمنع المواطنين الإماراتيين من السفر إلى دولة قطر والإقامة فيها والمرور عبرها".

"Qatar's policy threatens Arab national security and sows the seeds of strife and division within Arab societies according to a deliberate plan aimed at the unity and interests of the Arab nation," the statement read.

Egypt accused the Gulf Arab state of supporting "terrorist" organisations, including the Muslim Brotherhood.

Yemen also cut ties with Qatar, saying it supported the decision by the Saudi-led coalition to end Qatar's participation in the war there. The government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi said it severed ties with Qatar in part over is support of extremist groups in Yemen "in contradiction with the goals announced by the countries supporting the legitimate government."

Saudi Arabia also said Qatari troops would be pulled from the ongoing war in Yemen.

إضافة إلى ما سبق، أعلنت السعودية والبحرين إنهاء مشاركة القطريين في قوات التحالف العربي في اليمن.

The move to isolate Qatar was joined by Libya's eastern government later on Monday morning, according to its foreign minister, Mohamed Dayri. The eastern-based government is aligned with military commander Halifa Haftar, with whom Egypt has joined in recent military operations against Daesh terrorist camps in Libyan territory.

Daesh is among the terrorist groups that Qatar is accused of supporting across the region.

Bahrain and the UAE announced that their diplomatic staff had 48 hours to return from Qatar.

تجدر الإشارة إلى أن الأزمة الخليجية اندلعت إبان نشر وكالة الأنباء القطرية "قنا" تصريحات لأمير قطر، الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني، حول إيران، نفتها لاحقا مؤكدة اختراق موقعها.

Travel disruption

The move to isoloate Qatar has sparked fears of widespread travel disruption, with flights among the most seriously affected.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE announced that their citizens would be given 14 days to make arrangements before a ban would be imposed on travel to and from Qatar.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad says it has suspended flights to Qatar. Etihad said on its website Monday that "until further notice" its last flights would leave early Tuesday morning.

ويذكر أن التصريحات التي نقلت عن أمير قطر، أثناء رعايته حفل تخريج الدفعة الثامنة من مجندي الخدمة الوطنية في ميدان معسكر الشمال الشهر الماضي تقول: "إيران تمثل ثقلا إقليميا وإسلاميا لا يمكن تجاهله، وليس من الحكمة التصعيد معها، مؤكدا أنها قوة كبرى تضمن الاستقرار في المنطقة".

Qatar Airways said on its official website on Monday that it had suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia.

Qatar is also home to the sprawling Al-Udeid Air Base, which is home to the US military's Central Command and some 10,000 American troops, although no announcements have been made on the future of the US military presence there.

قطر تصدر بيانا حول إجراءات دول عربية ضدها

تعرب وزارة الخارجية القطرية عن أسفها لقرار السعودية والإمارات والبحرين قطع العلاقات مع الإمارة، معتبرة أن هذه الإجراءات غير مبررة وتقوم على مزاعم وادعاءات لا أساس لها من الصحة.

وتضيف وزارة الخارجية، في بيان اليوم بتاريخ الاثنين 5 يونيو ، أن هذه الإجراءات لن تؤثر على سير الحياة الطبيعي للمواطنين والمقيمين، مؤكدة أن قطر ستسعى لإفشال محاولات التأثير على المجتمع والإقتصاد القطريين.

'Unjustified' action

Qatar responded angrily to the joint action to isolate it, describing the move as "unjustified" and aimed at putting Doha under political "guardianship".

"The measures are unjustified and are based on false and baseless claims," the Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The aim is clear, and it is to impose guardianship on the state. This by itself is a violation of its [Qatar's] sovereignty as a state," it added.

While many Arab media outlets are reporting the developments as a response to Qatar's support for terroism, the Al-Jazeera news organization, which is owned by Qatar, has explained the dispute as stemming from a purported hack of Qatar's state-run news agency.

On 23 May, news emerged that the website and social media accounts of the Qatar News Agency had been hacked, allegedly carrying "fake news" reports relating to Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

وتقول وزارة الخارجية، في بيانها اليوم : "لقد تعرضت دولة قطر إلى حملة تحريض تقوم على افتراءات وصلت حد الفبركة الكاملة، ما يدل على نوايا مبيته للإضرار بالدولة، علما بأن دولة قطر عضو فاعل في مجلس التعاون الخليجي وملتزمة بميثاقه وتحترم سيادة الدول الأخرى ولا تتدخل في شؤونها الداخلية كما تقوم بواجباتها في محاربة الإرهاب والتطرف".

قطر تعرب عن أسفها لقرارات الجميع عــدا ""المستهدفة مصــر""

Muslim Brotherhood

Qatar has long faced criticism from its Arab neighbors over its support of Islamists. The chief worry among them is the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist political group outlawed by Egypta, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Gulf countries led by Saudi Arabia fell out with Qatar over its backing of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, a Brotherhood member.

In March 2014, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain recalled their ambassadors from Qatar over the rift.

Eight months later, they returned their ambassadors as Qatar forced some Brotherhood members to leave the country and quieted others. However, the 2014 crisis did not see a land and sea blockade as threatened now.

In the time since, Qatar repeatedly and strongly denied it funds extremist groups.

However, it remains a key financial patron of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and has been the home of exiled Hamas official Khaled Mashaal since 2012.

Western officials also have accused Qatar of allowing or even encouraging funding of Sunni extremists like al-Qaida's branch in Syria, once known as the Nusra Front.

The crisis also comes after US President Donald Trump's recent visit to Saudi Arabia for a summit with Arab leaders.

At that Saudi conference, Trump met with Qatar's ruling emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

"We are friends, we've been friends now for a long time, haven't we?" Trump asked at the meeting. "Our relationship is extremely good."

وأضاف البيان: "من الواضح أن الحملة الإعلامية فشلت في اقناع الرأي العام في المنطقة وفي دول الخليج بشكل خاص وهذا ما يفسر التصعيد المتواصل".

وتابعت الوزارة في بيانها: "إن اختلاق أسباب لاتخاذ إجراءات ضد دولة شقيقة في مجلس التعاون لهو دليل ساطع على عدم وجود مبررات شرعية لهذه الإجراءات التي اتخذت بالتنسيق مع مصر والهدف منها واضح وهو فرض الوصاية على الدولة وهذا بحد ذاته انتهاك لسيادتها كدولة وهو أمر مرفوض قطعيا".

Foreign Minister Shoukry : Qatar, Turkey invited to opening of new Suez Canal

The new Suez Canal project will be inaugurated on 6 August

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) sits with Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani upon his arrival ahead of the Arab Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, in the South Sinai governorate, south of Cairo, March 28, 2015

Egypt has invited all the countries of the world, including Qatar and Turkey, to attend the inauguration of the New Suez Canal on 6 August, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Wednesday.

The inauguration of the new Suez Canal is an event related to international commerce and it is illogic to only invite specific countries to the inauguration ceremony, Shoukry said during a meeting with diplomatic correspondents on Wednesday.

Ties between Egypt and both Qatar and Turkey have strained following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. The two Brotherhood-sympathetic countries have severely criticised his ouster and the authorities that took office after him.

Turkish President Erodgan repeatedly slammed Egyptian authorities and demanded the release of Morsi, who is currently standing trial in four separate cases in Egypt.

Qatar – a strong ally of Morsi during his term in power – for its part has been criticised by Egypt and its Gulf allies for its role in hosting Muslim Brotherhood leaders who fled Egypt. The Islamist group was designated as a terrorist organisation in November 2013.

Recently, Qatar has reportedly deported a number of Brotherhood figures from its territories.

Qatar's suspension in December 2014 of its Egypt-focused Al Jazeera channel, accused by Cairo of serving as a mouthpiece for the Brotherhood, as well as its banishing of seven Brotherhood leaders in September were seen as good-will gestures by Doha to mend relations between both states.

#Qatar ambassador resumes work in #Cairo

Ambassador Saif Moqadam Al-Boenain attended last week’s Arab League summit in Sharm El-Sheikh

Saif Moqadam Al-Boenain, Qatari ambassador to Egypt

Qatar's ambassador to Egypt resumed work on Tuesday at his office in Cairo  AS reported.

Qatar had recalled Ambassador Saif Moqadam Al-Boenain on 19 February "for consultation" after Egypt's envoy to the Arab League charged that Doha supports terrorism.

Qatar had criticised unilateral Egyptian airstrikes against Islamic State group targets in Libya following the beheading of Egyptian Copts.

However, the ambassador attended the Arab League summit held in Egypt's Sharm El-Sheikh on 28-29 March with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa, in a possible sign of an ease in tension between the two states.

Cairo has been incensed by Doha's criticism of the post-Morsi government and its hosting of several exiled leaders of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt had also recalled its ambassador to Doha in February over political tensions and the cabinet said on 6 March that he would not return for now.

However, Qatar has recently distanced itself from the Brotherhood by deporting some of its members to other countries.

Both Egypt and Qatar are part of a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

#ArabLeague final draft resolution calls for Arab joint force

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, center, Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby, left, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri, preside over a meeting of Arab heads of state, in Sharm el Sheik, South Sinai, Egypt, Saturday, March 28, 2015

The Arab League's final draft resolution calls for establishing a Joint Arab force to counter growing security threats. However, the statement left the decision to participate in these forces to each and every country in accordance to its will.

The force will intervene to meet challenges that threaten the security and safety of any Arab League member at the request of the concerned state; a decision over which Iraq reportedly voiced reservations.

The final statement, which is expected to be issued later on Sunday, backed military operations carried out in Yemen by a Saudi-led coalition, urging the Houthi rebels to carry out "an immediate withdrawal from the capital Sanaa and government institutions and to surrender their weapons to the legitimate authorities."

The resolution stressed the need for an urgent response to Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi's call for a conference in Saudi Arabia under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The League summit, held in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh, called for Arab countries to support Palestine's budget for one year starting next April, and also supported the Palestinian Central Council's resolutions calling for a review of political, economic and security relations with Israel to put pressure on Tel Aviv to respect the signed agreements and international legitimacy resolutions.

Iraq reiterated its objection to any military intervention in any other country, and called for dialogue as a means to resolve problems. As for Lebanon, it stressed the need for any move to be based on Arab consensus.

The resolution called on Arabs to provide full political and logistic support to the legitimate government in Libya, including the national army.

Arab leaders urged the UN Security Council to quickly lift the embargo on arms imports to the Libyan government, as it is the sole legitimate authority, and to assume its responsibilities in preventing the flow of arms to terrorist groups.

The resolution called on the internationally-recognised government to exert more effort to control borders with neighboring countries, a decision over which Qatar voiced reservations. Algeria said items related to lifting the arms embargo and arming the Libyan army fall within the political context of the solution.

The summit urged the Security Council to take full responsibility for dealing with the Syrian crisis, and called for the Arab League Secretary-General to continue his contacts with the UN Secretary-General to reach a common plan of action to come to an agreement on the Syrian crisis, according to the "Geneva I Conference on Syria."

Arabs voiced their absolute backing for the United Arab Emirates sovereignty over its three islands near the Strait of Hormuz, calling on the Iranian government to enter into direct negotiations with the United Arab Emirates or to go to the International Court of Justice to find a peaceful solution to the issue of the islands occupied by Iran since 1971.

#Qatar's #emir to attend #Sharm #Arab summit, Egypt minister says

Qatar's emir to attend Sharm Arab summit, Egypt minister says

Despite tensions with Cairo, Egyptian minister says Qatar's emir will attend an Arab League summit due later this month in Sharm El-Sheikh

Emir of Qatar Sheik Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

Qatar's emir will attend an Arab League summit due to take place in Egypt later this month, an Egyptian official said, sign of a possible ease in political tensions between the two Arab states.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in comments to private TV channel Sada El-Balad on Tuesday that Egypt "has received a notification" that Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad will participate in the annual gathering of the 22-member bloc.

The 26th Arab League summit will take place on March 28-29 in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, with national security in the Arab countries topping the agenda, officials say.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman is expected to lead a line-up of Arab leaders at the summit who will also include Iraqi President Fouad Masoum.

Egypt and Qatar have fallen out over Doha's backing of Egyptian Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, who was ousted in 2013, and his Muslim Brotherhood group. 

Cairo has been incensed by Doha's hosting of several exiled leaders of the Brotherhood, now banned and designated a terrorist organisation by Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Qatar's emir did not attend a global investor conference Egypt hosted earlier this month in the coastal city. But a delegation from his country headed by a top economic ministry official participated in the three-day international gathering which saw Egypt secure $12 billion of investments and central bank deposits from Arab Gulf allies of Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and sign billions of dollars of deals.

In February, Qatar recalled its ambassador to Cairo over a spat at a meeting of the league in Cairo where Egypt's delegates accused Doha of supporting terrorism.

The new flare-up of tension came after Qatar expressed reservations over Egypt's recent air strikes against Islamic State group targets in Libya in response to the beheading of 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians.

Qatar's suspension in December 2014 of its Egypt-focused Al Jazeera channel, accused by Cairo of serving as a mouthpiece for the Brotherhood, as well as its banishing of seven Brotherhood leaders in September were seen as good-will gestures by Doha to mend relations between both states.  

#Egypt and #France reach tentative agreement on sale of 24 #Rafale jets

A Rafale fighter jet performs during the first day of the Dubai Airshow November 13, 2011

France and Egypt have agreed a deal worth more than 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion) for the sale of Dassault Aviation-built Rafale fighter jets, a naval frigate and missiles, a French source close to the matter said on Thursday.

The deal would make Egypt, which has been looking to upgrade its military hardware on fears the crisis in neighbouring Libya could spill over, the first export customer for the French warplane.

"Yes, there is an agreement," the source said in response to a report in Le Monde newspaper which said the two countries had initialled the deal on Thursday.

Le Monde said the final page outlining the modalities would be signed on Monday by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and French officials, possibly President Francois Hollande or Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

A French government official said the talks had not ended.

"The Egyptian president has not made his decision on the French offer," he said. "The discussions are not finished, the dialogue continues."

Egyptian government officials and Dassault executives could not immediately be reached for comment.

The deal includes 24 Rafale jets, a Fremm naval frigate and MBDA air-to-air missiles.

The contract with Egypt would be the first overseas for the Rafale 14 years after it entered service and three years after manufacturer Dassault Aviation entered exclusive negotiations to sell 126 of the combat jets to India.

Delays in finalising the Indian contract are expected to be discussed at a major Indian air show starting on Feb. 18.

Dassault, which is also in negotiations to sell the Rafale to Qatar, is under increasing pressure to sell the jet overseas.

The French government said last year it would slow the pace at which it takes delivery of Rafale jets, taking just 26 over the next five years instead of 11 a year. .

Paris and Cairo have enjoyed close economic ties in the past but turmoil in the north African state since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011 left Western governments wary of signing contracts, especially in defence.

With the recent rise to power of Sisi, ties have improved. Both sides are concerned by the rise of jihadist groups in Libya and Egypt.

France secured its first major military contract in Egypt in about 20 years in 2014 with a 1 billion-euro ($1.35 billion) deal to sell four naval frigates.

The Fremm is built by state-controlled DCNS, which is 35 percent owned by French group Thales. MBDA is a venture of Airbus Group, Britain's BAE Systems and Finmeccanica of Italy.

BREAKING: Qatari-based Al-#Jazeera Mubasher Misr announces closure

Qatar's controversial Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr (Al-Jazeera Egypt) announced on Monday that it is broadcasting its last news items before closure, as reconciliation efforts to mend tensions between Egypt and Qatar continue.

A statement published by the Al-Jazeera said Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr "temporarily ceased broadcasting until such time as necessary permits are issued for its return to Cairo in coordination with the Egyptian authorities."

Meanwhile, according to the statement, a new channel named Al Jazeera Mubasher Al-‘Amma (Al-Jazeera General Live) would temporarily report on global events on the same frequency as Mubasher Misr.

The Qatari channel, which maintained that the ouster of Morsi in July 2013 was a military coup and regularly denounced Egypt's current government, was banned from broadcasting out of Cairo in August 2013.

Al-Jazeera's move to take its Egypt channel off the air comes amid attempts by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries to to mend the relationship between the two countries after months of tensions over Doha's support to the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Qatar released a statement on Sunday announcing its "full support" to Egypt following a meeting between Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and a Qatari envoy in Cairo.

"Qatar, which cares about Egypt’s leading role in the Arab and Islamic world, seeks strong bilateral relations and mutual efforts to develop Egypt which will be in the interest of the peoples of both countries," the statement of the Qatari royal court read.

“Saudi Arabia values the steps taken by the two countries which will strengthen the relationships between Egypt and Qatar, one of which is today’s visit of the special envoy of the emir of Qatar," a statement by Saudi Arabia, ahead of Qatari envoy visit to Egypt had read.

Sisi and Thani are expected to hold a summity in Riyadh soon for a summit hosted by Saudi King Abdullah.

In the aftermath of ouster Morsi's, tensions grew between Qatar and Egypt as Doha hosted outspoken members of the Brotherhood who are wanted on criminal charges in Egypt.

Qatar also failed to hand over to the Interpol Brotherhood members wanted by Cairo.

In November, the post-Morsi government returned all $6 billion borrowed from the gas-rich state during Brotherhood rule.

However, in September, Qatar, in an apparent good faith move to end tension with Egypt, asked at least seven Egyptian Islamist figures, mostly members and allies of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, to leave the country. Moreover, in recent weeks, the channel started occasionally referring to Egyptian president El-Sisi as "the first elected president after the coup." in palce of its longstanding insistence he was the "leader of the coup." and  was ended with he channel closure with "leader and elected president al sisi"

Foreign minister : #Qatar should support #Egypt's national security

Foreign minister calls on Qatar to respect agreements from November summit in Riyadh

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry

Cairo's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called on Qatar to adopt "supportive policies" for Egypt's national security, urging Doha to stay away from any acts that harm the country's stability.

Relations between the two countries have soured since the ouster of Muslim Brotherhood president Mohamed Morsi, as Egypt has accused the Gulf state of interfering in its affairs.

In an interview , Shoukry didn't directly blame Qatar's backing of the Brotherhood and its Islamist-oriented Al Jazeera satellite channel for the strained ties, instead saying that he will "leave the judgment to observers."

Shoukry pointed out that Egypt quickly reacted to Saudi Arabia's call for Egypt to back a recent agreement between leaders of three Gulf countries to end a months-long rift with Qatar in "appreciation to King Abdullah."

In March, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain withdrew their envoys from Doha, accusing it of supporting organisations that undermine the Gulf's stability and interfering in other states' affairs.

But in a summit held in the Saudi capital Riyadh earlier this month to discuss the fall out, the three Gulf states – all members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – agreed to send back their ambassadors, ending a dispute between the Arab Gulf allies.

Shoukry said that Egypt seeks to have "strong and friendly relations with its Arab brothers," calling on Qatar to abide by the arrangements reached in the Riyadh summit.

"As Egypt is eager to be an active player in protecting Arab national security, we wish and believe that all Arab countries care about Egypt's interests and security," the foreign minister said.

Egypt's top diplomat also spoke about the situation in Libya, describing the situation in the war-torn North African country as "dangerous." He referenced the initiative issued during a ministerial meeting with Libya's neighbours held in Cairo in August.

"The initiative encourages national dialogue between all parties that renounces violence and seeks the unity of Libya's territory," said Shoukry.

He argued that Libya's parliament – and the government formed of it – enjoys legitimacy, which represents the "willingness of the people based on free and democratic elections."

He said that all "international actors recognise the legitimacy" of Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni's government and called for respect for the results of Libyan ballot boxes.

Shoukry asserted that violence is still adopted by some groups that seek to "impose their will over Libyans" by using their "military achievements" as grounds to enter dialogue.

The minister said that Egypt backs the endeavours of the United Nations special envoy to Libya, Bernardino Leon, to reach a political solution and open room for national dialogue.

Since the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in the 2011 uprising, Libya has failed to maintain control over armed militias that managed to remove the long-time dictator from power.

Egypt's currency black market to disappear within a year: CBE governor

CBE governor upbeat about foreign currency reserves, unconcerned about effect of returning billions of dollars of Qatari deposits



Central Bank of Egypt Governor Hisham Ramez

Egypt's central bank (CBE) plans to eliminate the currency black market in less than a year, Hisham Ramez, the bank's governor, said on Tuesday.

The Egyptian pound saw a widening gap between its exchange rates on the official market and the black market after the uprising which toppled president Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and the following years of political and economic turmoil.

"My internal target is six months – but let me tell you, one year and this will disappear, this kind of grey market, because it is an issue of confidence" which shows signs of being restored, Ramez told a US business mission to Egypt gathered in Cairo.

Since President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's election in June of this year, the government has taken several economic reform measures to return investor confidence in the economy, several of which have been hailed by international institutions and credit rating agencies.

Ramez stressed that foreign currency was available in Egypt, albeit outside the formal banking sector, recalling that $1.5 billion was sold to the banks when the CBE issued Egyptian pound-denominated investment certificates to finance an extension of the Suez Canal in September.

"We don't have a problem of foreign currency availability as a country: the problem is that it is not in the right channel," he added, without specifying how the CBE would tackle the issue.

The official rate was stable at LE7.1401 per dollar, according to the latest auction by the CBE held on Monday, while the rate on the unofficial market weakened to LE7.56 per dollar from LE7.5 a few days earlier.

Egypt's net international reserves stood at $16.9 billion at the end of October.

The CBE governor was also unconcerned about the effect of Egypt returning billions in deposits to Qatar, which he described as "hot money" on its net international reserves position.

The bank is preparing to return $2.5 billion of matured deposits to Qatar by the end of November, bringing to $6 billion the sum it has returned to the country in several instalments since last year.

The Gulf monarchy had deposited a total of $6.5 billion in Egypt's central bank during Islamist president Mohamed Morsi's year in office, but relations between the two countries have soured since Morsi's ouster in July 2013.

"We are working very hard to cover up [the void left by] this money," said Ramez, assuring that the reserves will exceed their current level "by far" in the "next three to four months" without specifying how this will be achieved.

Last month, anonymous sources told several Egypt media outlets that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would deposit $5 billion (LE35 billion) in the CBE before the end of the month, but the reports have not been officially confirmed.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait stepped in to support Egypt following Morsi's fall, showering the country with $10.6 billion in aid and grants, most of which came in the form of petroleum products, with cash received amounting to almost $3 billion.

Qatar has become isolated from its surroundings Gulf.And its political role receded after June 30-قطر باتت معزولة عن محيطها الخليجي.ودورها السياسي انحسر بعد 30 يونيو

تميم بن حمد آل ثاني أمير قطر

بعد أن كانت قطر لاعبًا إقليميًا رئيسيًا في السنوات الاخيرة، انحسر دورها السياسي بشكل كبير في الاشهر الثلاثة التي تلت انتقال الحكم فيها، لاسيما مع سقوط حكم الإخوان المسلمون بمصر وتعاظم دور السعودية، بحسب محللين ومصادر متطابقة. 

وبموازاة تراجع دور قطر، البلد الصغير جغرافيًا والغني بالغاز، تبدو علاقاتها مع جيرانها الخليجيين أيضًا مأزومة بحسب المصادر، حيث فقدت قطر خلال فترة قصيرة نسبيًا أوراقا كثيرة، بدءًا من مصر إلى سوريا، ومن ليبيا لتونس. 

وقال المحلل السياسي أنطوان بصبوص، مدير مرصد الدول العربية بباريس لوكالة فرانس برس، إن انهيار الإخوان بمصر أثبت مدى الرهان القطري على الإخوان والدرجة الكبيرة من التهور بهذا الرهان"، فمع سقوط حكم الإخوان "بدأ عد عكسي للنفوذ القطري" كما "بدت سطحية هذا النفوذ". 

وفي خطوة غير مسبوقة، أعلن أمير قطر في 24 يونيو تخليه عن السلطة لصالح ابنه تميم بعد أن حول بلاده من دولة مجهولة للاعب إقليمي بارز، فيما أوحى الأمير الجديد أنه سيعطي أولوية للوضع الداخلي، وبعد أيام فقط، قام الجيش في مصر بعزل المعزول الإخواني محمد مرسي، وتعد قطر الداعم الأكبر لتيار الإخوان بالعالم العربي، لاسيما بمصر، البلد المحوري والأكبر. 

وفي الملف السوري، تراجع نفوذ قطر على الائتلاف الوطني المعارض مع تقلص حصة الموالين لها لصالح أصدقاء السعودية. 

وقال مصدر من المعارضة السورية، لوكالة فرانس برس: "لقد ضعف الدور السياسي لقطر كثيرًا داخل المعارضة السورية، وباتت السعودية صاحبة التأثير الأكبر"، خصوصًا مع وصول الرئيس الجديد للمجلس أحمد الجربا، واختيار رئيس وزراء انتقالي جديد هو أحمد طعمة مكان المقرب من قطر غسان هيتو، والجربا وطعمة مقربان من الرياض. 

إلا أن المصدر، أكد أن قطر ما زالت تقدم السلاح لفصائل سورية إسلامية معارضة، خصوصا في الشمال وبالتنسيق مع تركيا، وبحسب بصبوص، فإن الوضع بمصر "أثر كثيرًا بشكل سلبي على الإخوان في تونس وعلى الميليشيات الإخوانية في ليبيا". 

وردا على سؤال حول سبب تراجع الدور القطري لصالح السعودية في ملف المعارضة السورية، قال مصدر قطري مصرح له إن "كل دولة تدعم الثورة السورية بطريقتها، وهذا الكلام فيه انتقاص للثورة وكأن قطر هي من قام بها وليس الشعب السوري". 

وقال إن ما يحكى عن خروج قطر من دائرة الأضواء الإعلامية يظهر أن "هدفنا من دعم الثورة السورية لم يكن إعلاميًا"، مؤكدًا أن "قطر فتحت الطريق وعبدته أمام المجتمع الدولي لكي يساند ويدعم الثورة السورية". 

وبحسب المصدر، فإن أمير قطر الجديد الشاب الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني (33 عاما) كان يمسك بالملف السوري قبل وصوله لسدة الحكم. 

وقد يكون الشيخ تميم يبدو مصممًا على فتح صفحة جديدة تختلف خصوصًا عن رئيس الوزراء السابق البالغ النفوذ الشيخ حمد بن جاسم آل ثاني. 

وقال بصبوص إن "كل ما بني في سنتين ونصف بدا كأنه مزعزع ومبني على أساسات غير صلبة"، وبتالي فان الدولة التي تعد صاحبة اكبر دخل للفرد في العالم "هي الآن في مرحلة إعادة نظر في الحسابات وستكون مقبلة على لعب دور لا يتجاوز حجمها". 

وبحسب المحلل، فإن الأمير الجديد "لا يريد الحلم المستحيل الذي بدأته الإدارة السابقة، إدارة الحمدين، (الأمير الشيخ حمد خليفة ورئيس الوزراء حمد بن جاسم) فتزعم العالم العربي عبر الإخوان وعبر قناة الجزيرة أكبر من طاقة قطر". 

لكن قطر ما زالت تدعم حتى الآن الإخوان المسلمون خصوصا عبر احتضان منظرهم الشيخ يوسف القرضاوي، فيما قناة الجزيرة ما زالت تضع ثقلها خلف المعارضين "للانقلاب العسكري" في مصر. 

وبهذا، تبدو قطر معزولة تمامًا عن محيطها الخليجي الداعم بقوة للإدارة المصرية الجديدة ولوزير دفاعها عبدالفتاح السيسي. 

وقال مصدر سياسي خليجي لوكالة فرانس برس "العلاقات بين قطر وباقي دول الخليج ليست جيدة حاليًا، مع السعودية والبحرين وبالأخص مع الإمارات".

وأضاف "الخلاف كبير حول مصر، وكبير جدًا حول الدعم للإسلام السياسي". 

وبحسب المصدر الذي طلب عدم الكشف عن اسمه:" فإن هناك امتعاضا أيضًا مما يعتقد انه دعم قطري لمعارضات خليجية داخلية. هذا خط أحمر بالنسبة لهذه الدول". 

وسجل سجال إعلامي قصير ومعبر بين السعودية وقطر الشهر الماضي، عندما رد وزير الخارجية القطري خالد العطية في تغريدة على مقولة نسبت لرئيس المخابرات السعودية الأمير بندر بن سلطان. 

كانت صحيفة وول ستريت جورنال نقلت عن الأمير بندر قوله في محادثة خاصة ان "قطر مجرد 300 شخص وقناة تلفزيونية"، فجاء الرد القطري في تغريدة وزير الخارجية الذي كتب: "مواطن قطري يعادل شعب وشعب قطر عن أمة بأكملها"، ونفت السعودية ما نشرته الصحيفة. 

وقال بصبوص في موضوع العلاقات مع دول الخليج "إن الجيران الخليجيين ليس عندهم الثقة بأن قطر قبلت بدورها الجديد وتنازلت عن الدعم غير المحدود للإخوان". 

وأضاف "أن المؤشر على القبول سيكون عبر الجزيرة وعبر دبلوماسية قطر وعبر الأموال التي تنفق على حلفائها، وكذلك عبر استمرار احتضان مفتي الإخوان يوسف القرضاوي". 

لكن انحسار دور قطر لا يعني انتهاءه، فقطر تبقى تتمتع بثروة طائلة وباستثمارات ضخمة في الغرب ما سيبقي لها مكانة لدى هذه الدول. 

وقال المحلل السياسي المتخصص في شئون الخليج نيل بارتريك إن هذا البلد "ما زال يتمتع بثقل اقتصادي محليًا وعالميًا"، إلا أن المحلل البريطاني لفت إلى أن مكانة قطر انحسرت إقليميا منذ 30 يونيو في مصر. 

وكأن متاعبها السياسية لا تكفي، فقطر تواجه أيضًا حملة تشكيك عالمية في استضافتها بطولة كاس العالم لكرة القدم في 2022، خصوصًا في فصل الصيف، هي التي شكل فوزها بشرف استضافة البطولة تجسيدًا لطموحاتها اللامتناهية.