Arab Quartet says Qatar insists on supporting terrorism

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain blamed Qatar for the failure of the Gulf mediation to resolve the ongoing crisis, hailing efforts deployed by Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in this regard.

The four Arab countries’ foreign ministers met in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the Qatari response to their list of 13 demands, which include halting Doha’s support to terrorist organizations.

In a statement delivered by Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry following the talks, the Arab quartet expressed regret over Qatar’s “negative” response to their demands, praising the mediation role assumed by Kuwait to resolve the crisis.

The joint statement said that the four Arab countries, through their list, were seeking to fight terrorism and counter its financing, noting that Doha has failed to respect diplomatic principles by leaking the demands to the media with the aim of thwarting Kuwait’s efforts and bringing the crisis back to the starting point.

The anti-terrorism countries stressed that the Qatari people were an integral part of the Gulf and Arab system, and that the measures taken were directed towards the Qatari government “to correct its path”.

“Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have affirmed that the intransigence of the Qatari government and its rejection of the demands made by the four countries reflect its involvement with terrorist organizations and its continued attempts to sabotage and undermine security and stability in the Gulf and the region and to deliberately harm the interests of the peoples of the region, including the brotherly Qatari people,” the statement said.

The four countries underlined the importance to abide by international resolutions and agreements as well as the principles stipulated in the charters of the United Nations, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

They also expressed surprise over the Qatari government’s unjustified rejection of the list of “legitimate and logical demands, which are aimed at fighting terrorism and countering its financing for the sake of world peace and security.”

The Arab quartet has agreed to convene in the Bahraini capital, Manama, to follow up on discussions over the matter.