bOycOtt cONtINueS
FMs of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain regret Doha’s negative response
cairo — Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said boycott of Qatar will remain in place as Doha failed to respond satisfactorily to demands placed by the Arab nations.
“The boycott will remain,” he said at a news conference in Cairo after meeting with his counterparts from Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE over the crisis.
Foreign ministers of the four nations said on Wednesday they regretted Qatar’s ‘negative’ response to a list of demands to end a diplomatic crisis. The ministers “regret the negative response from Qatar”, they said, in a statement read out by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, after the meeting in Cairo.
Speaking to reporters after reading the statement, Shoukry said Qatar’s response to the bloc’s conditions had “no substance”. But the ministers stopped short of announcing an escalation after the expiry of a deadline they had set for Qatar, with Al Jubeir saying they would “take steps at the appropriate time”.
The countries issued the 13-point list of demands on June 22, giving Qatar 10 days to respond. The deadline was extended by 48 hours on Sunday at the request of Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Moody’s has downgraded Qatar’s credit outlook to negative on concern a quick resolution of the Qatari crisis is unlikely, but kept its long-term issuer rating at Aa3, according to the rating agency. Except for a ‘swift resolution,’ economic activity is likely to be stymied, Moody’s said.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, was leading the UAE delegation at the quartet meeting of the foreign ministers in Cairo. — Agencies
Next greater isolation, incremental measures & reputational damage stemming from Doha’s continued support for extremism & terrorism Message from Cairo is zero tolerance for terrorism, powerful message from Arab world to international community. Qatar can’t miss the bus For any real discussion with Doha to gain traction, it has to be responsible for past actions & recognise the necessity of changing course A very measured press conference in Cairo. Emphasis on Qatar’s support for extremism & terrorism affirmed. Focus on behaviour change The 4 FMs emphasis on international law & total rejection of Doha’s sponsorship of extremism & terrorism dominated & rightly so
cairo — Arab states that have cut ties with Qatar held talks in Egypt on Wednesday to discuss their next move in the Gulf diplomatic crisis, as Doha called for dialogue to resolve the dispute.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry welcomed his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for the talks at a ministry building in central Cairo, a month after the countries severed ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting extremism.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Saudi foreign ministry said they had received Qatar’s response to their demands — which include Doha ending support for the Muslim Brotherhood and closing broadcaster Al Jazeera — and would respond “at the right time”.
Saudi Arabia and its allies have not said what steps they could take next, but there are fears of a wider boycott that would hurt the Qatari economy, with credit ratings agency Moody’s announcing it was changing Qatar’s outlook to negative over the crisis.
The countries issued the 13-point list of demands on June 22, giving Qatar 10 days to respond. The deadline was extended by 48 hours on Sunday at the request of Kuwait, which is mediating > Foreign ministers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain met in Cairo to discuss their next move. > Saudi foreign ministry has received Qatar’s response to their demands. > There are fears that a wider boycott will further hurt the in the crisis, and Qatar handed in the response on Monday.
The contents of the response have not been disclosed.
The other demands include Qatar downgrading ties with Iran and shutting down a Turkish military base in the emirate.
Qatar has said repeatedly it is ready for talks on the crisis and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Wednesday repeated that Doha is ready for dialogue.
“We welcome any serious efforts to resolve our differences with our neighbours,” he told the Chatham House think-tank in London.
Riyadh and its supporters have severed air, sea and ground links with Qatar, cutting off vital routes for imports including food.
They also ordered Qatari citizens Qatari economy. > Moody’s says it is changing Qatar’s outlook to negative over the crisis. > The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain issued a 13-point list of demands on June 22. > Qatar foreign minister says Doha is ready for dialogue. to leave their territories and took various steps against Qatari firms and financial institutions.
The crisis has raised concerns of growing instability in the region, home to some of the world’s largest energy exporters and key Western allies who host US military bases.
Qatar has been defiant throughout the crisis, insisting it can weather action taken against it.
On Tuesday it even announced a major boost in planned natural gas output, with Qatar Petroleum saying it would increase production to 100 million tonnes a year by 2024, up 30 per cent from current levels.
Qatar is the world’s leading producer of liquefied natural gas.
Its energy riches have transformed Qatar into one of the world’s wealthiest countries, a major international investor and a regional
The visions of the two presidents (abdel Fattah El sisi and donald Trump) on dealing with current regional crises were in line, especially when it comes to reaching political settlements which contribute to regional security and stability Statement from Egyptian President’s Office
any independent state has the right to take measures against any party. doha must listen to the voice of reason and wisdom Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Foreign Minister
We now have this opportunity to reach good results for the benefit of the whole region. The matter is not related only to the sovereignty of Qatar. For us, the GCC is the guarantor of stability and security in the region Sigmar Gabriel, German Foreign Minister
I would like to say here that the interests of the region will be better served if Qatar ends the crisis (by) getting rid of the leaders of the terrorist and extremist organisations that they have hosted Saud bin Mohammad Al Sati, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to India
We welcome any serious efforts to resolve our differences with our neighbours. We don’t accept intervention in our own affairs Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, Qatar foreign minister
player that will host the 2022 football World Cup.
Concern has been growing, however, that a drawn-out crisis could have an economic impact.
Moody’s said it was changing its credit rating outlook for Qatar to negative from stable, citing “the economic and financial risks arising from the ongoing dispute”.
“The likelihood of a prolonged period of uncertainty extending into 2018 has increased and a quick resolution of the dispute is unlikely over the next few months,” the agency said.