CAIRO (Sputnik) — "The right step to preserve the GCC is to freeze Qatar's membership in the Council… Bahrain will not attend the summit and sit with Qatar, which is coming closer with Iran and preparing foreign forces, which pose a threat to the security of GCC countries," Al Khalifa said on Twitter.
The Golf Cooperation Council is an alliance of the Middle East countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, whose main goal is to foster economic and military cooperation between the states.
Gulf States Want Regime Change in Doha
Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has said in the air of CBS Broadcaster that Persian Gulf states had entered into a confrontation with Qatar due to its "independent" policy and these monarchies want a regime change in Doha.
"They don't like our independence, the way how we are thinking, our vision for the region… They want a regime change. It's… so obvious," Al Thani said.
According to Al Thani, Qatar will not shut down Al Jazeera broadcaster as it was demanded by the Gulf states.
Qatari Emir added that Doha wants to end this crisis, however "nothing is gonna be above our [Qatari] dignity, our sovereignty."
In early June, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and meddling in their internal affairs. Kuwait, acting as a mediator in the crisis, handed over to Doha an ultimatum containing 13 demands on behalf of the four states. The list included requests to sever Qatar’s relations with Iran, close Turkey’s military base in Qatar and shut down the Al Jazeera, as well as to end support for the Muslim Brotherhood.
Qatar has refuted all accusations and refused to comply with the demands.
