Saudi, allies slam Qatar non-compliance as threat to security

They had given the Gulf state a list of demands, including ending support of terror organizations and shutting Al-Jazeera

By AFP 7 July 2017, 8:51 am

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A man looks at his phone on the corniche in the Qatari capital Doha on July 2, 2017. (AFP Photo/STR)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia and its allies on Friday criticized Qatar’s refusal to accept conditions to end the Gulf’s biggest diplomatic crisis in years as a threat to regional security.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain said Qatar’s rejection of a list of demands they set to lift sanctions on Doha “reflects its intention to continue its policy, aimed at destabilizing security in the region,” according to a statement on the official SPA news agency.

“All political, economic and legal measures will be taken in the manner and at the time deemed appropriate to preserve the four countries’ rights, security, and stability,” the statement added, without elaborating on the potential measures.

The four states last month announced the severing of all diplomatic ties with Qatar over allegations the emirate bankrolled Islamist extremists and had close ties with Saudi’s arch-rival Iran.

On June 22, they issued a 13-point list of demands, including the shutdown of broadcast giant Al-Jazeera, as a prerequisite to lifting the sanctions, which include the closure of Qatar’s only land border and suspension of all flights to and from the country.

The Saudi foreign ministry on Wednesday said they had received Qatar’s rejection of their demands, raising fears of an escalation in the volatile region.

Saudi and its allies now consider the demands, sent via mediator Kuwait, “null and void” as the Qatari government had “thwarted all diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis,” according to Friday’s statement.

Credit rating agency Moody’s has announced it was changing the emirate’s outlook to negative from stable over the crisis.