Jubeir: Qatar issue minor compared to other crucial regional crises

The Saudi Minister for Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, said on Friday that the positive changes occurring in Saudi Arabia will raise the country’s regional status.

He was speaking at the Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels.

Jubeir noted that Saudi Arabia is witnessing a period of change which will allow the youth to fulfil their dreams. The minister’s statements come on the sidelines of the high-level G5 Sahel force summit.

Qatar case

On Qatar, Jubeir said that: “The situation in Qatar is minor compared to other crucial regional crises. All we want is for them to leave us alone and to stop using their media platforms as means to incite hatred.”

“They even hindered the reform campaigns in the kingdom,” he added. Jubeir said that although Qatar signed an agreement to end their support for terrorism, this was not entirely fulfilled.

He also said that Qatar must move on from its state of denial to understand the reality of the situation. At the same time, he stressed that the Arab quartet only wants one thing: “To end terrorism.”

The region

Discussing other regional matters, the minister said that GCC countries are facing major regional problems. He also noted that the entire region is especially facing major challenges in Syria and Iraq.

On strengthening relations with Iraq, Jubeir said that Iraq plays an important role in the Arab world and Saudi Arabia will support their efforts in rebuilding after their war against ISIS.

Touching upon Yemen, Jubeir said that the Houthi militia have repeatedly undermined efforts towards a solution in the war-torn country. The minister acknowledged that the case in Yemen is complicated. “We did not seek a war there,” he added.

Also, Jubeir said Iran is the single-biggest danger not only in the region, but the world. “We see Iran’s negative activity in the whole region. For example, in Lebanon we see the terrorist Hezbollah and in Syria it has sent its militias, ” he said.