Four Arab countries send Qatar list of 13 demands to end crisis

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Four Arab states boycotting Qatar over alleged support for terrorism have sent 13 demands to Doha in a bid to end the crisis, including the closure of al-Jazeera television and diminishing ties with rival Iran. 

The demands follow the deterioration of ties between many of the countries in the region, a move led by Saudi Arabia, accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism, a country which is believed to have strong relations with Iran.

The demands were sent by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates  (UAE), Egypt, and Bahrain almost three weeks after they cut economic and diplomatic relations, and travel with Doha on June 5. They also called for the closure of a Turkish military based in Qatar, an official told Reuters.

Turkey's Defense Minister Fikri Isik responded and stated that Turkey would not close its military air base in Qatar, accusing the four Arab countries demands of interfering in the bilateral ties between Turkey and Qatar.

Ankara has been backing Qatar in the past weeks, since the crisis between Doha and the Arab countries erupted, by sending multiple aid planes to the country.

The Arab states also call on Doha to announce it has relations with terrorist and sectarian organizations, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State (IS), al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. They additionally ask Qatar to surrender all designated terrorists on its land.

Qatar has rejected the accusations. It has not responded to the demands yet, but on Monday, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Doha would not negotiate with the four Arab countries unless the measures are lifted on Qatar.

The list of demands was given to Qatar through Kuwait who is acting as a mediator, asking Doha to stop interfering in the four countries’ domestic and foreign affairs. The states gave Qatar ten days to comply after which the list will no longer be on the table. If Doha fails to abide by in the determined period, the option will no longer be available to end the dispute, the official said.

The President of the US Donald Trump has also offered a strong stance against Qatar, accusing it of being a high-level sponsor of terrorism, but has also called to resolve the crisis between Doha and the four Arab states.

Editing by G.H. Renaud