Return to Transcripts main page

Connect the World

Arab Quartet Meet in Cairo to Discuss Qatar; Donald Trump Leaves for G20 Summit; Has U.S. Leadership in the World Disappeared? Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired July 05, 2017 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[11:00:10] BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: What happens next? Well, four Arab states gather to talk about just that as the Gulf crisis turns one month

old. The details of Qatar's response to a list of their demands have still not been made public. We are live in Doha in just a moment.

Also, U.S. President Donald Trump takes off for the G20 meeting in Germany a day after North Korea conducts a gamechanging missile test from crisis

management to cementing ties, a glance of what is his jam packed agenda coming up.

A very warm welcome. This is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi.

This town ain't big enough for the both of us. Well, it wasn't. Now it is. America used to be almost the only sheriff laying down the law. If

Washington wasn't going to get its own way, then you probably weren't going to get yours. Well, how things can change.

While American leadership is still amazingly powerful, it just isn't what it was. So when it comes to who is calling the shots -- Europe, or on

North Korea things are just a little messy at these days. And that's a really, really big deal to every single one of us.

Like on what and where you ask? Well, take Qatar. We know it's told its neighbors what it makes of their demands, but right now we are pretty much

in the dark about everything. What we don't know, what Doha had to say for itself -- lights up please -- and the replay to the replay set to come from

the Saudi-led quartet keeps getting pushed back today.

Well, we were are on both sides of this like nobody else, of course. Not only are we fixed up here in Abu Dhabi, which is the capital of the UAE,

CNN's Jomana Karadsheh, of course, is looking lively for us out in Doha today.

We're looking at this story from two perspectives, one of course is the quartet who are huddled, it seems, in Cairo working out their response to

the response that we haven't quite understood yet to be from the Qataris to be these demands. What's the perspective where you are on the Qatar side

of this?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Becky, as you said I think all eyes are on Cairo right now. We're waiting for a

press conference of the four foreign ministers to start at some point and maybe give us a bit more detail on what the next steps are in this crisis.

And I think that is what the Qataris are waiting for, too.

No indications, as you said, of what they put in that letter, what their response to the list of demands is. But all indications, as we've seen,

and we've heard over the past few days, it is very unlikely that they have agreed to comply with that list of sweeping demands.

We also heard the foreign minister speaking today at an event in London. And it's been much of the same. That same message we've heard from the

Qataris throughout this crisis, their position, what they believe this is all about.

But it was also interesting, Becky, saying that at the heart of this issue is how different Qatar's policies are to its neighbors and other countries

in the region. For example, he says some of the countries in the region really abuse the term terrorist. They say -- he says they use it to

describe political dissidents and opposition groups, for example. And they don't deal with the grievances of the people in the region like Qatar would

do. a And take a listen to what he had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHMAMMED BIN ABULRAHMAN AL THANI, QATAR FOREIGN MINISTER: I know that this message will not be well received in some of our neighboring capitals.

But there are serious problems in the Middle East region. And silence in Qatar will not solve them. The answer to our disagreement is not blockade

and ultimatums, it is dialogue and reason.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARADSHEH: And this has been the message from Qatar for the past couple of weeks, Becky, saying the only way out of this disagreement, out of this

crisis, is dialogue. And they say they are ready to listen to the grievances of the other side and basically try and reach a resolution for

this whole crisis through dialogue only.

[11:05:06] ANDERSON: We started this show, and we will continue throughout this hour, to take a look at American leadership, or the lack of these

days, across a myriad of issues, not least that of this Gulf crisis.

Stand by. I just want to -- we just got some breaking news here -- that President Trump, it seems, spoke with the Egyptian president, el-Sisi, by

phone aboard Air Force One while he was on the way to the G20 meeting.

The two, we are told, discussed the ongoing rift with Qatar. And Trump, quote, called on all parties to negotiate constructively to resolve the

dispute.

He also, we are told, discussed North Korea with Sisi. Relevant, because Egypt is currently a member of the UN Security Council.

But I stick to the conceit of our argument during this hour, Jomana, which is this lack, this vacuum of leadership from the U.S. We've seen the

Germans, for example, shuttling around this region trying to help mediate this crisis.

What sort of impact do you think the lack of the Washington appetite for this has had?

KARADSHEH: I think, you know, Becky, from speaking to people here and speaking to experts in this region, the feeling has been that this U.S.

position, which of course no one is really clear on what is the U.S. position when it comes to the Gulf crisis. You had President Trump, who on

numerous occasions, whether through tweets or public statements, has come out in support of Saudi Arabia, had singled out Qatar. And he was

perceived to be really the one who pushed this crisis to the level that it got to.

And then on the other hand, you've got the State Department, Secretary Tillerson, who throughout has been calling for dialogue, trying to call for

calm in this whole crisis. So, there's been a lot of confusion, a lot of mixed messages from the United States. And the feeling has been is that it

made things worse during this crisis.

And, you know, while I spoke a couple of days ago to one Qatar expert, he says while you're not going to see the U.S. really inserting itself as a

main mediator in this crisis, they will probably do what the Europeans are doing and that is to back the Kuwaiti mediation effort.

And of course we've heard that from Secretary Tillerson. And in the words of this expert, Becky, who I spoke to, he says the -- if the United States

leaves this to Secretary Tillerson, we might see some sort of a resolution to this crisis soon.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. All right.

Jomana, who is still in Doha on the leg of the story there. Such an important story, not just for this region, of course, but as we've been

saying for a month now what goes on in the Gulf doesn't stay in the Gulf. This has international ramifications. Jomana, on the story for you in

Qatar.

You can hear Christiane Amanpour's interview with the Qatari foreign minister, which is in full on the Amanpour show at 7:00 p.m. London time,

10:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi this evening.

Well, there are so many sides to this story. You've just heard the view from Qatar. But we've also invited representatives of the four who are

going up against Qatar on to our show. And we will make sure to bring you, our viewers, their side of the story when they make themselves available to

us so that you get the full SP on this.

Well, Qatar, for its part, has been speaking almost daily to CNN, think tanks and international bodies all in an effort, one assumes, to make its

case.

Later this hour, we will hear from one of the lawyers that Qatar has hired to make sure that that case is air tight.

Well, the Gulf diplomatic standoff is undoubtedly on U.S. President Donald Trump's list when he meets fellow leaders at the G20 summit this week. But

arguably, it won't be the most pressing priority. For that, you've got to look a bit further east. Yep, I'm talking about North Korea. Right now,

the U.S. is weighing options for dealing with what it calls a brand new missile from Pyongyang.

On Tuesday, North Korea tested it, calling it a nuclear capable and able to reach the United States. Suzanne Malveaux has very latest on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump departing on his second international tour, one day after the Pentagon confirmed that

North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, one that analysts say could reach Alaska.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un taunting the United States, saying the launch was a Fourth of July present to the Trump administration. As the

U.S. responds with both a military and diplomatic show of force, calling for an emergency session at the United Nations Security Council to be held

today. Followed by a strongly worded statement from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, stressing that global action is required to stop a global threat

and declaring that the U.S. will enact stronger measures against the North Korean regime.

Tillerson's hardline stance in stark contrast to this terse 23-word statement, following Pyongyang's missile launch in April.

[11:10:45] H.R. MCMASTER, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The president has made clear to us that he will not accept a -- a nuclear power in North Korea.

MALVEAUX: North Korea's aggression, likely to dominate discussion during this weekend's G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, including his first

official bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his second meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Putin and Xi joining diplomatic forces and releasing their own plan to defuse tensions with North Korea after a meeting in Moscow Tuesday. Calling

for a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests while also urging the United States and South Korea to stop conducting joint military exercises and

specifically condemning the deployment of U.S. missile defense systems in the region.

The White House tells CNN there is no official agenda for President Trump's meeting with Putin. Although pressure is mounting for Trump to directly

address Russia's interference in the 2016 election, though officials say it's unlikely.

REP. ADAM SMITH (D), WASHINGTON: What is the Trump administration's strategy for countering all of this Russian aggression? They don't have

one.

MALVEAUX: President Trump also set to meet with skeptical European leaders seeking reassurance about America's commitment to NATO, after President

Trump chose not to affirm his support for the alliance in May.

TRUMP: Twenty-three of the 28 member nations are still not paying what they should be paying, and what they're supposed to be paying for their defense.

MALVEAUX: The president's unpopularity in the region already sparking protests, with thousands expected to converge on Hamburg during the summit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: All right. And much more on the challenges awaiting world leaders at the G20 summit in just a moment. We're going to get some cross-

continent analysis from our correspondents in Warsaw, in Hamburg and in Moscow. That is straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: G20, welcome to hell: that is the official slogan of the protest awaiting world leaders when they arrive in Hamburg in Germany this week.

But as you can see from these pictures things are heating up even before the summit of the leading industrialized nations as they are known gets

underway.

A big story for us here on Connect the World. You're watching CNN. I am Becky Anderson. Welcome back. Quarter past 7:00 in the UAE from our

broadcasting hub here in the Middle East.

Now, the G20 meeting will be a critical test of Donald Trump's leadership on the World Stage. Many will be watching to see how he handles crises

from North Korea to Syria and whether he will reassure NATO allies with an ironclad commitment. Perhaps the most closely watched meeting, though,

will come on the sidelines. And he sits down with Vladimir Putin.

Before all of that, though, a brief stop in Poland. Air Force One will land in Warsaw just hours from now. CNN senior international

correspondents fanned out across Europe for you to cover this story. Ben Wedeman is in Poland, Nic Robertson is in Hamburg, and Matthew Chance is

live in Moscow.

Ben, to you first. Trump's first stop in a country that's relatively well disposed to the new U.S. leader. What kind of reception is he likely to

get?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we think it will be a very warm reception. The government here is making sure that that's going

to be the case. This is a government not unlike President Trump. It is right wing, populist, not a believer in climate change, for instance, not

enthusiastic about greeting refugees and migrants, and therefore they see eye-to-eye on most things.

We understand that some of the supporters of the government here will, in fact, be arranging for buses to bring their constituents to Warsaw to take

part in a -- rather to attend a speech that the president will give at the memorial for the 1944 Warsaw uprising.

For instance, Poland is, afterall, one of the five NATO countries that does spend at least 2 percent of its GDP on defense, something that President

Trump stressed he wanted to see all NATO members to do.

It's important to keep in mind, however, that perhaps the level of enthusiasm for the new administration in Washington isn't quite as high as

the government here would like to tell you. For instance, the Pew Research Institute in its recent study found that only 23 percent of Poles

questioned said they have confidence in President Trump's ability to deal with global affairs compared to 46 percent who have confidence in German

Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But by and large, it's not expected they're going to be any significant protests during President Trump's stay in Warsaw -- Becky.

ANDERSON: All right, Ben, very briefly he's set to deliver a speech on Transatlantic ties, of course. What specifically European issues will

Trump be faced with this G20, do you think?

WEDEMAN: Well, I think more than anything there will be some desire among European leaders for him to take a clear stand on the role of NATO in the

realm of European defense. He did not make a very clear statement when he met with the G7 in May in Italy. So, that's one thing.

Now, we understand that at his address tomorrow at the Warsaw uprising memorial, he will be laying out his vision for the future of U.S. relations

with Europe, that's according to Mr. McMaster, his national security adviser. We don't have much in the way of specifics, but obviously this is

going to -- this speech, perhaps, will set the tone for how he's going to be greeted by European leaders at the G20 meeting in Hamburg.

ANDERSON: Yeah, absolutely. And, Nic, on that point, huge challenges to deal with at this G20.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There are. And it's been interesting to see already the sort of battle lines being drawn. Angela

Merkel has been quoted in one of the principle weekly political publications here as saying on the issue of globalization that the

Europeans that she sees globalization should be something that's win-win, whereas she assesses the United States, President Trump's vision, is a

process where there are winners and losers. In the United States, just a few profit was what she was saying.

And she believes there should be a situation where everyone benefits from globalization. This comes down to views, fundamental differences on trade.

Let's not forget earlier on in this year President Trump was criticizing Germany for a trade imbalance, too many Mercedes, he seemed to imply, were

driving up and down Fifth Avenue in New York. Angela Merkel, for her part, quipped that hoped President Trump would be happy that there are plenty of

iPhones being used around Berlin.

This is a fundamental difference of beliefs, though, it isn't just that the two have sparred verbally over this, it's a view on free trade, or

protectionism and there will be an object lesson for President Trump when he gets here. Tomorrow it's expected in Brussels that Japan will sign a

major free trade agreement with the European Union that will make it easier, reduce customs duties, make it easier for Japan to bring Japanese

cars into Europe and for Europe to export more agriculture products back to Japan. That's just one area.

Then you get to, let's say, climate change. President Macron of France has quipped to President Trump's make America great again on the issue of

climate change, which President Trump doesn't want to be part of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Macron has said let's make the world great

again.

These are big ticket issues here. And that's before you get into the meeting with President Putin, or how he'll discuss North Korea with

President Xi Jinping who he has a very testy relationship now that's really gone downhill in the last week -- Becky.

[11:21:16] ANDERSON: Well, let's talk Putin and Trump, then. Matthew, in Moscow, we know that North Korea will be a huge focus at G20. But as Nic

rightly pointed out, Russia's foreign minister now speaking out ahead of a key meeting today at the UN.

What more can you tell us?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Russians have tried to stake out their position as clearly as they can. The Russian

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying that the task of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula should not become a pretext for regime change in North

Korea. And that's consistent with Russia's foreign policy in general. They've seen regime change, of course, in Iraq and in Libya and more closer

to home in Ukraine. And they don't like it. And they've worked strenuously to try and prevent it.

They certainly don't want to see it in the Korean peninsula where there's another sort of relatively benign regime, from Moscow's point of view, that

holds power.

There's also a humanitarian argument that the Russians are making as well saying that there could be certain consequences talking about the

humanitarian flow, the potential loss of life if this crisis escalates any further.

Let's take a quick listen to what Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, had to say on this issue earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): For Russia and China, it is absolutely clear that any attempts to justify the military

solution using the UN Security Council resolution as a pretext are not acceptable and will lead to unpredictable consequences in the region, which

is neighboring both Russia and China. The attempts to strangle North Korea economically are also unacceptable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHANCE: So, no military solution, that's what the Russians are making it clear that they want to see.

What they do want to see is a negotiated settlement, diplomacy, of course, that would give them a seat at the top diplomatic table, again another

major foreign policy aim of the Russians, to be front and center of any solution to a major international diplomatic crisis, Becky.

ANDERSON: All right. What do you think the expectations, then, very briefly are of this Putin, Trump meeting, Matthew?

CHANCE: Well, very quickly I think the expectations are pretty low. Trump camp to power promising to turn around the relationship with Russia. He's

been completely unable to do that because of his domestic political situation.

The Russians are now saying, look, if there can be an agreement, of course, they got a whole range of issues to talk about -- but if there can be an

agreement just that these two figures will meet again, that will be considered a success. And so anything other than an abject failure, I

think, in this first initial meeting between Trump and Putin will be regarded as a success from the perspective of Moscow.

ANDERSON: Matthew Chance is in Moscow, Ben is in Poland for you, and Nic Robertson on the G20 beat. Chaps, thank you very much indeed.

Right. If that wasn't enough, let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. And the Iraqi prime

minister is congratulating his troops on a great victory, as he calls it, even though the battle to retake Mosul from ISIS isn't over yet. Iraqi

troops have now pushed the remaining ISIS fighters into what is a small area next to the Tigris River.

British Police say the last visible human remains have been covered from the Grenfell Apartment tower. The commander leading the effort says only

21 people who died in the horrific fire have been identified so far, some 80 people perished when the high rise was destroyed.

Volvo is going electric. It will launch five fully electric cars from 2019 to 2012 and will make every car without a combustion engine after that.

The Swedish carmaker, owned by a Chinese company, would be the first traditional automaker to embrace electric and hybrid car production.

And, it is another big day on the courts at Wimbledon. And on the men's side, big names Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal in action later, both hoping

to progress through to what will be the third round. In women's draw, Venus Williams hoping to put a tough week behind her and she played her

second round game.

Wimbledon is full of quirky traditions, isn't it? And one of them is just to get into the grounds. Our website, CNN.com take you into the queue

quite literally. Thousands of people gather every day just to get a ticket and see the stars. As we explain, it can be almost as absorbing as

watching the matches themselves.

Well, the latest world news headlines are just ahead. Plus, top diplomats from four Arab countries are meeting as we speak in Cairo to discuss the

crisis with Qatar. What's next for the tiny state with big ambitions. Well, I'll ask a lawyer advising Doha.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

ANDERSON: Iced out, even despite scorching summer heat as we've told you at this hour, an Arab state's confab is underway in Cairo, the top

diplomats from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt all there. Not on the guest list, well you guessed it, Qatar. And as the mercury rises, so

do the tensions.

Well, for the Qatari perspective on what happens, let me just remind you we have reached out to representatives of all of the -- what's known as Saudi-

led quartet to get them to come and put their perspective on this show. We continue to offer that opportunity to everybody involved in this. And we

await a positive reply from the quartet.

Meantime, let's take a look at the Qatar perspective here. What happens next in this month-old diplomatic standoff. I'm joined by Desmond de Silva

in London. He's a lawyer and is advising the Qatari government.

Perhaps you can enlighten us on Qatar's response to the demands. It insists were written to be rejected, demands that Qatar says breach the

principles of international law and the respect for sovereign states.

DESMOND DE SILVA, QATAR'S ATTORNEY: That is absolutely right. In fact, the blockade and the ultimatum clearly a violation of its national law. As

long ago as 1970, the General Assembly of the United Nations past a resolution, which is commonly called a friendly relations declaration,

which requires all nations, all states, to exercise restraint and calls upon all states to refrain from interfering with internal or external

affairs of another state.

Now, what's happened here with the blockade, and the other measures taken against Qatar, is clearly a breach of that. And it's in great violation of

Qatari sovereignty.

ANDERSON: OK, let me stop you there for a moment.

I want to get from you, then, what the Qatari response was to these demands. As the legal team retained to represent the Qataris, your role is

to advise the government on the legality or illegality of the demands put forward by Saudi and its allies. But I want to know what the response was

from Qatar. We all want to know what the response from Qatar is as we await the response to the response, as it were, from the quartet.

DE SILVA: Becky, you're quite right. We were instructed to deal with the ultimatum and the blockade and the legality, or otherwise of it. I have

got no instructions as to what the precise terms of the reply from Doha has been. And that I don't know. And I can't assist you, I'm afraid.

ANDERSON: Well, we're clearly not going to get you to provide us with what is the real nub of this crisis.

All right, so you believe these demands, then, directly interfere with Qatari sovereign affairs and are thus illegal. What happens next so far as

the process is concerned as far as international law is concerned?

DE SILVA: I mean, quite clearly what must happen now is talk. We are getting very close to -- I mean, there's a whiff of sort of 1914 here and

the -- and the demands made of Serbia by Austria-Hungary. That sort of situation once really got to (inaudible) void, because I mean that can lead

to a dangerous escalation.

What needs to be done now is for the parties to get together and talk. And it's most important, I take the view that the security counsel should step

in at this stage and get the parties around a table.

ANDERSON: Let me -- there's one thing I want to clarify here. You've been using the word blockade. Qatar, itself, has been very quick to describe

this action as a blockade. This is not a fully accurate description, the Gulf states not completely sealing off Qatar. And some restrictions have

actually been relaxed in the last few weeks.

Anyway, I just want to clarify that point.

The poet T.S. Eliot famously wrote, quote, "this is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but with a whimper." And as for this crisis the line

seems to apply, sir.

Here is the UAE's foreign affairs minister. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP

ABDULLAH BIN ZAYED BIN SULTAN AL NAHYAN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES FOREIGN MINISTER: The alternative is not escalation, the alternative is parting of

ways.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: So, to your mind, sir, from Qatar's perspective will it be a bang or a whimper? Is this is the end for Qatar and its Gul neighbors?

DE SILVA: I mean, I don't think so. For a moment, I think that if the quartet, led by Saudi Arabia, reassesses their position I think they will

come to the conclusion, if they are properly advised they will do so. They should roll back from their present position. And I think that the

ultimatum that has been -- that has been directed at Qatar, which is really quite outrageous. Closed down, closed down al Jazeera, stop the Turkish

base in Qatar. For goodness sake, Turkey is a member of NATO. And, you know, these things can't be allowed to get out of hand.

I think -- I mean, I think the group led by Saudi Arabia really have got to scale back, and take a step back, and reconsider their position.

[11:35:45] ANDERSON: With that we're going to leave it there. I will remind our viewers, once again, that we await word from the meeting of the

foreign ministers who are gathered, the quartet foreign ministers, the FMs of the UAE, of Saudi, of Egypt and of Bahrain who are meeting in Cairo as

we speak. No word as to what their decision is about what happens next in this crisis. As we get it, viewers, we will bring it to you. Desmond,

thank you for that.

And again, we have offered the opportunity for all sides in this dispute to come on to this show and put their point across. We will consider and

entertain anybody's decision to do that. We continue to do.

Right, let's turn now to a heart wrenching story we've been covering here on Connect the World, the case of 11-month-old Charlie Gard, a terminally

ill baby now in a London hospital.

Hang on, before we do this, let's just cross to Cairo as we've been discussing.

(ARAB QUARTET FOREIGN MINISTER PRESS CONFERENCE)

[11:50:56] ANDERSON: Right, we'll you've been listening to a press conference out of Cairo. The foreign ministers of the four Arab nations

that cut ties with Qatar have been meeting to discuss what was a very tense or is a very tense situation.

The foreign minister of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, speaking to the press after the meeting of the top diplomats from the Arab States accusing Qatar of

defunding of and support for terrorism, repeating the allegation of Doha's intervention in Arab affairs.

I want to bring up Jomana Karadsheh. Jomana, we heard the Egyptian foreign minister say, and I quote, we hope wisdom will prevail and that the

international community should support the calls to end terrorism and extremism, and emphasize the peaceful efforts to end this crisis.

He said that the foreign ministers, the quartet will continue to discuss what might happen next. He made, though, no definitive statement about what

the next steps will be, suffice to say he will -- we will continue with our consultations.

We were also listening to a question from one of the reporters there asking about the Qatari response to these demands. And if the response -- and I

want you to just weigh in here -- the response was described as a negative response from Qatar and described as a response not committing to

agreements made recently in Riyadh by other Arab states. Your thoughts?

KARADSHEH: And also saying, Becky, that, you know, Qatar's response in the words of those foreign ministers in their joint statement saying that it

did not reflect Qatar realizing the gravity of the situation as they described it.

And I think this is what we knew all along, that Qatar was not going to comply, it was not going to agree. We, of course, don't know the exact

response they got from Qatar, but when we heard the foreign minister of this country saying that their response was going to be within the context

of international laws and preserving Qatar's sovereignty, that was a clear indication that they will not be complying.

And I think if anyone was waiting to hear what the next steps are, and I think the Qataris were and the entire world really, we did not get that.

As you mentioned, they're saying that they're going to continue their consultations and that they were going to meet next in Bahrain.

But I think one issue that the Qataris wil, again, point out as we heard today that you had the quartet really coming out reiterating their position

explaining why they moved against Qatar. And one of the things they mentioned is the commitment to the agreement that was made during the

Riyadh summit.

The concern here has been that they use this whole move by President Trump to combat extremism and extremist funding that that was being used as a

pretext to go after Qatar. And I'm sure we'll be hearing that from the Qataris soon.

ANDERSON: That's right. And we heard from the UAE's foreign minister who said this region has suffered from chaos, from missed opportunities. And

he said this is an historic opportunity to deal with extremism. I'm paraphrasing him here. Backed, he said, by the U.S. president.

Just how important has that vocal support, certainly the outset of this being for this quartet from the U.S. president.

And we clearly understand there was a disconnect, it seems, between the U.S. administration and, for example, the State and Pentagon is Washington.

KARADSHEH: Absolutely. I think the feeling, Becky, has been that that Riyadh summit and President Trump pushing the countries in this region to

move against extremist funding and extremism was basically the opportunity that these countries were waiting for, at least that is the feeling amongst

experts and many here, that that provided them with that opportunity to settle regional scores, the issues that they had with Qatar. And that is

what they are using to go after this country to back it into a corner to force it to change its foreign policy. That has really been a source of

irritation for its bigger and stronger neighbors.

And we've seen President Trump at the beginning of this crisis most definitely, whether it was tweets or statements coming out seemingly siding

with Saudi Arabia and the UAE in this dispute. And this is not something that, you know, Qatar, a key U.S. ally, was really expecting. And, of

course, then there was the mixed messages, as you mentioned, from the State Department and the White House.

ANDERSON: Across all sides of this story, and we will continue to cover an ongoing news conference in Cairo off the back of the meeting of the foreign

ministers of what is being called the Saudi-led quartet.

I'm Becky Anderson -- Jomana, thank you for that -- that was Connect the World. Thank you for watching.

END