US stresses Qatar’s commitment in combating terror financing

Washington:  The State of Qatar is committed to implementing the memorandum of understanding signed (MoU) with Washington on the fight against the financing of terrorism, said US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (pictured), adding that it is important to build confidence either on both bilateral or regional level.

The United States is following the Gulf crisis and is concerned about it because it contributes to destabilising the Gulf region and undermines unity among the GCC countries, which the United States considers an important council in maintaining stability in the region” Tillerson told a news conference in Washington.

Tillerson praised the efforts exerted by the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in his interaction with mediation efforts aimed at resolving the Gulf crisis since the first day of the crisis.

He noted that the United States continues its efforts and contacts with all sides of the Gulf crisis on a nearly daily basis to discuss the current situation, adding that resolving the crisis requires “significant concessions”, which the United States is now working with the parties concerned.

US Secretary of State said he had asked two officials, including retired general and former Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni, to work to end the Gulf diplomatic crisis. The parties to the dispute are still not in direct talks, however, and Washington is keen to pressure its allies in the region to mend ties and work together against extremism.

He stressed the parties need to sit down and start a dialogue on the causes of differences in order to reach a solution to them. “United States is committed to resolving this dispute and restoring the unity of the Gulf, which it believes that its unity is very important to help defeat the ISIS group,” he said.