DOHA – Qatar called Saturday for a new regional alliance following thefailure of the four-decade-old Gulf Cooperation Council to resolve an18-month rift between the emirate and its neighbours.

Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that the boycottimposed on the emirate by Saudi Arabia and its allies had irreparablydamaged the existing six-nation structure set up at the height of theIran-Iraq war in 1981.

“The regional alliance has been undermined by the crisis,” Sheikh Mohammedtold policymakers at the two-day Doha Forum.

“Therefore the alliance that existed needs to be reshaped and redesigned toensure future stability and security of the region.”

The minister said the GCC had “no teeth” to resolve any dispute.

“They have mechanisms in place and never trigger them because somecountries believe they are non-binding.”

He said that despite the failings of the GCC, he still expected a regionalsolution.

Kuwait has been leading diplomatic efforts but has so far been unable toresolve the crisis.

The minister was speaking after Qatar s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin HamadAl-Thani, stayed away from the GCC s annual summit in Riyadh last Sundaydespite receiving an invitation from its Saudi hosts.

Sheikh Mohammed lashed out at the reasons advanced by Saudi Arabia and itsallies Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates for imposing their sweepingboycott.

“It was based on lies, it was based on crimes… it was based on creatingpropaganda to create fear among the people,” he said.

Riyadh and its allies accused Doha of supporting “terrorist groups”,including the Muslim Brotherhood which they blacklist but with which Qatarhas longstanding ties.

They also accused the emirate of advocating improved relations with Saudiarch rival Iran, with which Qatar shares important offshore gas fields.

They set out their complaints in a 13-point list of demands that has beenrejected by Doha as an assault on its sovereignty and its right to conductan independent foreign policy.

In his opening remarks to the forum, the emir said Qatar s Gulf partnersneeded to show respect for the country s independence.

“Our position has not changed on how to solve the Gulf crisis,” the Qatarileader said.

“This can be achieved by lifting the siege and resolving difference throughdialogue and non-interference in other countries internal affairs.”

The forum also heard from Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor-Viorel Melescanuwho said the European Union was working on organising talks to try toresolve the crisis. – APP/AFP