QATAR REFUSES TO ‘OUTSOURCE FOREIGN POLICY’ IN GULF CRISIS

DOHA: Qatar refuses to bow to Saudi-led demands to “outsource” its foreign policy to resolve the Gulf crisis, its government spokesman has said.

Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed Al-Thani, who holds ministerial rank, accused Doha’s adversaries in the crisis - Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt - of meddling in Qatar’s internal affairs.

“What’s behind this crisis of course is Qatari sovereignty and independence to put it very simply. It is about... outsourcing our foreign policy so that decisions are not made in Qatar, and that is something that will never be acceptable,” he said.

Sheikh Saif said the Saudi-led bloc had laid down a new“ultimatum” on Tuesday by publishing a list of individuals and “terrorist” entities allegedly linked to Doha.

This “list, it’s still an ultimatum, it’s still something that is stalling resolving the crisis”, he said. However, “we have said it from the start, we are open to dialogue, we are open to negotiating ... The first step should be lifting the illegal blockade .”

Riyadh and allies have been boycotting Doha since June 5. They are demanding that Qatar break its ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, blacklisted as a “terror group” by the four.

They also want Doha to close Al-Jazeera and a Turkish military base, and to fall in line with Saudi-led policy in the region, particularly towards Iran.