Four Arab states double down on Qatar boycott

The foreign ministers of four Arab states boycotting Qatar say they will make no compromises in their demand that Doha change its policies, as a political crisis that has split the Gulf approaches its third month.

Regional kingpin Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt broke ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing the emirate of fostering Islamist extremist groups and of ties to Saudi arch-rival Iran. Qatar has denied the allegations.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, who meet in the Bahraini capital on Sunday, say they are open to talks with Qatar on condition it “stops its support and financing of terrorism.”

“We reiterate the importance of Qatar’s compliance with the 13 demands outlined by the four states,” says a joint statement released Sunday.

The Saudi-led bloc in June issued the list of demands for the lifting of sanctions, including the termination of regional news giant Al-Jazeera, the downgrading of ties to Iran and the closure of a Turkish military base in the country.

— AFP