After summoning the Saudi ambassador, Riyadh and Doha not to cut relations
Saudi Arabia-Qatar, Politics, 10/1/2002

Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar tried on Monday to play down their differences, just one day after Riyadh's angry decision to summon the Saudi ambassador for Doha for consultation.

Officials from the two states said that the Saudi step will not result in the collapse of relations which they described as solid despite the erupted tension.

Arab and western diplomats said that the difference has been escalated after Qatar had permitted American forces to use Qatari military establishments from which Iraq can be attacked.

A high ranking Saudi official said that Saudi Arabia had summoned its ambassador from Doha but this does not mean severing relations or damaging "the strong relations with Qatar." He continued that "this, any way does not mean accepting unilateral behaviors that violate the GCC (Gulf states) consensus or one country member in the GCC to attack another GCC member." Arab and Western diplomats said that Saudi Arabia is very disappointed by Qatar's efforts to campaign itself as the main ally for the US in the region. A role which Saudi Arabia has played for decades.

An Arab diplomat said that the Saudis are angered by Qatar because it permitted the American forces to use al-Aided air base immediately after the US rejected to permit the Americans to use its military establishments.

The US has spent large sums of money on al-Aided base which cost it basically 4.1 billion dollars; the officials said that this base will be ready in December.

Saudi sources and diplomats in Riyadh said that Saudi Arabia is also angry with Qatar because it did not interfere to control the al-Jazeera TV which broadcast in June a program critical of the Saudi royal family.

Qatar says it will not close al-Jazeera TV station, noting that it is an independent station financed by the government.

Previous Stories:
  Saudi Arabia summons its ambassador in Qatar   (9/30/2002)
  Qatar: disagreement with Saudi Arabia will not affect relations   (8/2/2002)
  Ruler of Qatar congratulates King Fahd on successful eye surgery   (7/31/2002)

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