CNN reveals documents proving Qatar failed to comply with GCC agreements

Late on Monday, newly leaked documents revealed that Qatar had signed a series of agreements with countries including the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, authorizing them to do what they considered fit to protect their security, CNN reported. 

A copy of the agreement, which is also referred to as the "Riyadh agreement," was leaked and published by CNN who said it was obtained from a source in the region. 

In their report, the news network explained that while the existence of the agreements had been known, their content was previously kept secret "due to the sensitivity of the issues involved and the fact that they were agreed in private by heads of state." 

The provisions of the agreement do not single out Qatar and apply to all countries who signed it.

The countries involved in the current blockade on Qatar had previously accused it of not complying with the now disclosed agreement. 

According to CNN, this could possibly explain what sparked the ongoing Qatari crisis. 

The agreement includes several documents signed across 2013-2014. 

The first dates back to November 23, 2013, and is signed by the Saudi king and the emirs of Kuwait and Qatar. 

"It lays out commitments to avoid any interference in the internal affairs of other Gulf nations, including barring financial or political support to 'deviant' groups, which is used to describe anti-government activist groups," CNN wrote. 

The second dates back to November 16, 2014, and is considered "top secret." It mentions the King of Bahrain, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Prime Minister of the UAE as signatories. 

It also features a few additions to the demands, and specifically mentions Al Jazeera, with all signatories pledging their commitment to prevent it "from being used as a platform for groups or figures challenging the Egyptian government."

According to CNN, the foreign ministers of all countries involved in the agreement signed a "supplemental document" to that of 2013. 

This one features discussions on the implementation process of all points agreed upon.

It includes "provisions barring support of the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as outside groups in Yemen and Saudi Arabia that pose a threat to security and stability of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, a six-nation group that includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar." 

All blockading countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and Bahrain have issued a joint statement, saying that the leaked documents are proof that Qatar failed to meet its obligations. 

In the statement, published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the countries also explained that the list of >13 demands, >now rejected by Qatar, stems from the 2013-2014 agreement. 

It also added that the demands were aimed at giving the country a chance to fulfill the same commitments it had previously neglected.  

The list of 13 demands highlights similar points to those in the previous agreements, >including curbing relationships with Iran and severing all ties with "terrorist organizations," and the closure of Al Jazeera. 

Following Qatar's rejection of the demands, blockading countries said they will >maintain their blockade on the Gulf country. 

The blockade on Qatar began on June 5.  

Director of Qatar's government communication office, Sheikh Saif Bin Ahmed Al-Thani said that "it was Saudi Arabia and the UAE who broke 'the spirit of the agreement.'" 

In an interview with CNN, Al-Thani said: 

"A full reading of that text will show that the intent of the 2013/14 agreements was to ensure that sovereign GCC nations be able cooperate within a clear framework." 

"Their demands -- that Qatar close down Al Jazeera, force the breakup of families, and pay 'compensation' -- are demands that bear no relation to the Riyadh agreements," he added.

Al-Thani also rejected the claim that the blockade is a direct cause of Qatar neglecting the Riyadh agreement. 

"This crisis was triggered by a hacking, fabricated statements, and a coordinated media campaign against Qatar," he said.