In this Monday, June 5, 2017, file photo, provided by Doha News, shoppers stock up on supplies at a supermarket in Doha after Saudi Arabia closed its land border, through which the tiny Gulf nation imports most of its food. Qatar said on Monday that it had begun shipping cargo through Oman to bypass Gulf countries that have cut off sea and land routes to the tiny, energy-rich nation, the latest move by Doha to show it can survive a diplomatic dispute with its neighbors.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Indonesia has continued to call for dialogue and reconciliation as the main solution to end the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and its allies.
When interviewed on Thursday (15/6) in Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said there is no better option. Therefore, Indonesia will continue to lobby various parties to push for a peaceful solution to end the crisis in the Gulf.
A few days ago, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reached out to several world leaders. A similar step has been taken by Retno. She continues to communicate with her partners in the Gulf, Turkey, the European Union and the Unites States. She has also engaged in intensive communication with the Kuwait Foreign Minister.
After receiving United Arab Emirates (UAE) special envoy Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed al-Owais at the Pancasila building in Jakarta on Thursday, Retno said that on Wednesday night, she had contacted the German Foreign Minister and urged him to also speak with the US Foreign Minister. This was done so that the international community can collectively encourage Saudi Arabia and Qatar to quickly end their diplomatic crisis through peaceful avenues.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, which are situated around Qatar, have also closed land and air access, leaving Qatar isolated.
Mediation efforts has been initiated by Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Sabah Ahmed al-Sabah, by meeting Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the king of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. However, as of this moment, tensions remain high.
The latest development has seen Turkey and Iran providing Qatar with aid. Turkey has not only sent food, but has also prepared military support. Iran, meanwhile, has helped by providing, amongst other things, their port to be used by Qatar.
Preparation for dialogue
The UAE special envoy Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed al-Owais, who is also UAE Health Minister, agreed with Indonesia’s view. According to Retno, the UAE also sees the diplomatic crisis in the Gulf as a problem that must be resolved through dialogue.
Both do not see military action as an option. They also agree that mediation efforts carried out by Kuwait’s Emir would be the best move. Both ministers called on all parties involved to refrain from issuing policies that may worsen the situation in the Gulf.
At the moment, Retno added, there are a number of things that need to be discussed in more detail regarding the preparation for a dialogue, with a few preconditions having already been made. However, the UAE, she said, have not decided on which preconditions are right for a dialogue.
Retno said that the UAE will discuss the matter with Saudi Arabia and a number of other Gulf countries. She said that if all parties proposed a precondition, Indonesia feared that the dialogue would not take place.
However, Retno said she is optimistic the peace process could be realized because the idea of a dialogue has become a collective concern.
The UAE, she said, appreciated Indonesia’s position of being active and impartial from the beginning. Indonesia is seen as a country that is friendly with all parties and continues to create a conducive situation for dialogue. Abdul Rahman asked Indonesia to continue to engage in communication with Gulf countries as well as other countries.
In Doha, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also emphasized the importance of a dialogue. The statement was made after Cavusoglu met Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
From Qatar, Cavusoglu headed to Kuwait. After that, he will meet with King Salman in Saudi Arabia this Friday.
Peace efforts have also been encouraged by French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with the king of Morocco, Muhammed VI, in Rabat on Wednesday. A peaceful solution has also been called for by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Selling weapons
Amid the Gulf crisis, the United States and Qatar have sealed an agreement on the sales of F-15 fighter jets worth over US$12 billion. The deal shows the close ties between Doha and Washington.
A Qatari official said that the crack in diplomatic relations with a number of Arab countries has not affected Qatar-US relation, even though President Donald Trump had previously declared his support for Saudi Arabia and its allies.
The sales agreement for fighter jets has been signed by US Defense Minister Jim Mattis and Qatari Defense Minister Khalid al-Attiyah.
The US has a large airbase in Qatar. More than 11,Q000 US and coalition soldiers are stationed at the airbase.
