Gulf states list their demands to Qatar

MIDDLE EAST: Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries that have cut ties to Qatar issued a steep list of demands yesterday to end the crisis, insisting that their Persian Gulf neighbour shutter Arab news channel al-Jazeera, cut back diplomatic ties to Iran, and sever all ties with the Muslim Brotherhood.

In a 13-point list presented to the Qataris by Kuwait, which is helping to mediate the crisis, the countries have also demanded an end to Turkey’s military presence in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain broke ties with Qatar this month over allegations that it funds terrorism, an accusation United States President Donald Trump has echoed. Those countries have now given Qatar 10 days to comply with all of the demands, which include paying an unspecified sum in compensation.

Qatari officials in Doha did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the list included conditions that the gas-rich nation had already insisted would never be met, including shutting down al-Jazeera.

Qatar’s government has said it won’t negotiate until Arab nations lift their blockade. The demands are also likely to elicit Qatari objections that its neighbours are trying to dictate its sovereign affairs.

According to the list, Qatar must refuse to naturalise citizens from the four countries and expel those currently in Qatar, in what the countries describe as an effort to keep Qatar from meddling in their internal affairs.

They are also demanding that Qatar hand over all individuals wanted by those four countries for terrorism; stop funding extremist entities that are designated as terrorist groups by the US; and provide detailed information about opposition figures that Qatar has funded, ostensibly in Saudi Arabia and the other nations.

Qatar vehemently denies funding or supporting extremism.

–AP