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CAIRO / Reuters
Foreign ministers from the four Arab states leading the boycott of Qatar expressed disappointment on Wednesday with the tiny Gulf nation’s “negative†response to their demands, but did not announce new sanctions against Doha.
“The response the four states got was overall negative and lacked any content. We find it did not provide a basis for Qatar to retreat from its policies,†Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said reading out a joint statement.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain have cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar, which they accuse of supporting terrorism and allying with regional foe Iran. Doha denies the charges.
Foreign ministers of the four states met in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the situation after a deadline they gave Qatar to meet 13 demands expired. “The political and economic boycott will continue until Qatar changes its policies for the better,†Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a news conference.
The Arab countries have demanded Qatar curtail its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, shut down the pan-Arab al Jazeera TV channel, close down a Turkish base and downgrade its ties with regional arch-rival Iran.
They view Qatar’s independent diplomatic stances and support for 2011 “Arab Spring†uprisings as support for terrorism and a dangerous breaking of ranks – charges Doha
vigorously denies.