Demands on Qatar unlawful: Erdogan

ISTANBUL: Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed calls for Turkey to close a military base in Qatar and said a wider list of demands issued by four Arab states was an unlawful intervention against the Gulf state’s sovereignty.

In his strongest statement of support for Qatar in the nearly threeweekold crisis centred on the Gulf state, Erdogan said the call to withdraw Turkish forces was disrespectful and that Qatar — which described the demands as unreasonable — was taking the right approach.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain imposed a boycott on Qatar on June 5 and issued 13 demands, including closing Al Jazeera television, curbing relations with Iran, shutting the Turkish base and paying reparations.

Qatar said it was reviewing the list, but it was not reasonable or actionable.

‘‘We approve and appreciate the attitude of Qatar against the list of 13 demands,’’ Erdogan said. ‘‘This approach of 13 demands is against international law because you cannot attack or intervene in the sovereignty of a country.’’

Bahrain’s foreign minister said outside interference would not solve the problem.

‘‘It is in the interest of these powers to respect the existing regional order, which is capable of solving any issue that may arise,’’ Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed alKhalifa said in a message on Twitter, without naming Turkey.

The 13 demands are apparently aimed at dismantling Qatar’s interventionist foreign policy, which has incensed conservative Arab peers over its alleged support for Islamists they regard as threats to their dynastic rule.

Qatar, along with Turkey, whose ruling AK Party has its roots in Islamist politics, backed a Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt before it was overthrown in 2013.

The Arab states have demanded Qatar cut any links to the Brotherhood and other groups they deem to be terrorist, ideological or sectarian.

Turkey, the most powerful regional country to stand by Qatar, has sent 100 cargo planes with supplies since its neighbours cut air and sea links. It has also rushed through legislation to send more troops to its base in Doha.

Two contingents of Turkish troops with columns of armoured vehicles have arrived since the crisis erupted on June 5. — Reuters