UAE's Gargash says Qatar will remain in dire situation despite investments

The minister said that Qatar's media continues to lie to its audience

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash said late Tuesday that Qatar's media continues to lie to its audience. Giuseppe Cacace / AFP

The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that Qatar’s situation remains dire even if some are investing in its market.

“Many European officials realise that Qatar, in its crisis, is a promising market for all kinds of contracts and that Doha’s concerns provide an opportunity for their companies and goods. However, with that, contracts and deals will not change Qatar’s dire situation,” tweeted Dr Anwar Gargash late on Tuesday.

العديد من المسؤولين الأوروبيين يدرك أن قطر في أزمتها سوق واعدة لكافة أنواع العقود، وأن هواجس الدوحة تشكل فرصة سانحة لشركاتهم وبضائعهم، ومع هذا فإن الصفقات والعقود لم تغيّر من قلة الإهتمام بورطة الدوحة.

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) January 23, 2018

Dr Gargash has been one of Qatar’s strongest critics since the crisis emerged on June 5, when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Doha over its support of extremism and interference in other countries’ affairs.

He also on Tuesday condemned Qatar’s media, which, he said that “despite its generous spending" is still amateurish.

“Qatar addresses its audience and lies to ‘convince’ them,” Dr Gargash tweeted.

الإنطباع العام في حديثي مع العديد من الصحفيين والمتابعين الأوروبيين أن الآلة الإعلامية القطرية، وبرغم إنفاقها السخي، إلا أن أزمة الدوحة تبقى ثانوية، قطر تخاطب جمهورها وتنفق "لإقناعهم."

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) January 23, 2018

The four Arab countries stand firm by their decision to boycott Qatar, saying they are willing to re-establish communications with Doha only if it adheres to regional and international agreements and the demands and principles they have issued.

Doha has so far refused to meet the quartet's 13 demands – including the closure of Qatar-owned Al Jazeera news channel, which the quartet says provides a platform for extremists and dissidents.