Bahrain Mirror: The 3 Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and Bahrain) boycotting Qatar responded to the comment issued by Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on June 14, 2017, saying that their decision to cut ties with Doha is "sovereign" and aims at protecting the national security from terrorism.

According to the statement published in the official newspapers, the three states said that their missions in the Human Rights Council in Geneva are still communicating with the Office of the High Commissioner to ensure the rights of all concerned and to verify the said information and allegations.

Each of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates emphasized the following:

1. Decisions to cut ties with Qatar are a sovereign right of the States concerned and aim to protect their national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism. These decisions came after exhausting all possible means as a result of Qatar's failure to comply with the Riyadh Agreement for the Return of Ambassadors and its Supplementary Agreement of 2014, and its continued support, funding and hosting of terrorist, extremist and sectarian organizations. These decisions were taken in full conformity with the fundamental principles of Public International Law.

2. Further to these decisions and for the sake of our brotherly Qatari people, which is a natural extension of its brothers in the three States, it was decided to take many measures aimed at addressing humanitarian and health cases, establish hot lines in each country so that cases can be reported and appropriate action be taken, in a manner consistent with international obligations under international human rights law and our long humanitarian traditions.

3. The Permanent Missions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirm their willingness to continue working with the concerned parties in order to achieve the desired results of this break-up, namely, to maintain security, to combat terrorism and to safeguard the stability and well-being of the people of the region, including the brotherly Qatari people, in full respect for their human rights' and international humanitarian law's commitments.

Arabic Version