Tillerson leaves Gulf with no end in sight to Qatar crisis
AFP
DOHA: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Thursday wrapped up a four-day mission to the Gulf with little sign of progress in resolving the diplomatic crisis pitting Saudi Arabia and its allies against Qatar, reports AFP.
Tillerson met Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for the second time in 48 hours, together with a Kuwaiti mediator, on the final leg of his trip, before heading back to Washington.
Despite an intense round of shuttle diplomacy that also took him to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, tensions remained high between Qatar and four Arab states that accuse Doha of supporting extremism and being too close to their arch-rival Iran.
The diplomatic slack now appears likely to be picked up again by the Europeans, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian heading to the region at the weekend.
A French diplomatic source in Paris said that Le Drian would try to recreate confidence, create an interest of all parties to engage in de-escalation.
Le Drians visit will follow similar trips made by his counterparts from Germany and Britain in recent weeks.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a boycott on Qatar since June 5 with which it shares the worlds biggest gas field.
They have imposed sanctions on Doha, including closing its only land border, refusing Qatar access to their airspace and ordering their citizens back from Qatar.
They also presented the emirate with a list of 13 demands with which to comply to end the worst political crisis in the region for years.
Qatar denies the charges of extremism and called the demands unrealistic.
It also claims the boycott has led to human rights violations, and on Thursday one group said abuses were one consequence of the crisis.
Hundreds of Saudis, Bahrainis, and Emiratis have been forced into the impossible situation of either disregarding their countries orders or leaving behind their families and job, said Sarah Leah Whitson of Human Rights Watch.
