Saudi says Qatar boycott to remain in place

DONALD TRUMP, United States president CAIRO: Arab states that have cut ties with Qatar vowed on Wednesday to maintain their boycott of the emirate, criticising its “negative” response to their list of demands to end the diplomatic crisis.

Qatar appealed for “dialogue” to resolve the row while United States President Donald Trump spoke to Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to urge all parties “to negotiate constructively”.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, meeting here, “regret the negative response from Qatar”, they said in a statement.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Qatar’s response to the bloc’s conditions had “no substance” and “reflects a lack of understanding of the gravity of the situation”.

The talks here came a month after the four countries severed ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting extremism.

“The boycott will remain,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel alJubeir said at the same news conference in the Egyptian capital.

The four Arab states stopped short of announcing new sanctions but Jubeir said they would “take steps at the appropriate time.”

The UAE state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, predicted more isolation for Qatar.

“Next greater isolation, incremental measures and reputational damage stemming from Doha’s continued support for extremism and terrorism,” he tweeted.

The demands included Doha ending support for the Muslim Brotherhood and closing broadcaster Al-Jazeera. AFP