Demands by Arab states not realistic: Qatar

Qatar's Foreign Minister on Saturday rejected a list of 13 conditions set by four Arab countries for lifting sanctions, saying it is neither reasonable nor actionable.

Qatar is under strict sanctions from Saudi Arabia and its allies, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain over its support to terror organisations, BBC reported.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, quoted by Al-Jazeera, said: "The US Secretary of State recently called upon the blockading nations to produce a list of grievances that was 'reasonable and actionable'."

"The British Foreign Secretary asked that the demands be 'measured and realistic.' This list does not satisfy that criteria."

He said the demands were proof that the sanctions had "nothing to do with combating terrorism... (but) limiting Qatar's sovereignty, and outsourcing our foreign policy".

The country has been under unprecedented diplomatic and economic sanctions for more than two weeks, with Iran and Turkey increasingly supplying it with food and other goods. Qatar denies accusations that it is funding terrorism and fostering regional instability.

Among the 13 demands, the four Arab countries have demanded the closure of Al Jazeera TV, which is funded by the Qatari government.

They also want Qatar to reduce its ties with Iran, kick members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard out of Doha and cease any joint military cooperation with the country. The nations asked Qatar to close a Turkish military base, setting a deadline on Friday of 10 days.

The list also demanded that Doha severe all ties with "terrorist organisations", including the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic State group, Al Qaeda and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Additionally, the nations also demanded that Qatar hand over all individuals who are wanted for terrorism and stop funding any extremist entities that are designated as terrorist groups.

Al Jazeera accused them of trying to silence freedom of expression, adding: "We assert our right to practise our journalism professionally without bowing to pressure from any government or authority."

The UAE's Foreign Minister Anwar Mohammad Gargash said there would be a "parting of ways" with Qatar if it failed to meet the demands.

"The alternative is not escalation," he said. "The alternative is parting of ways. It's very difficult for us to maintain a collective grouping with one of the partners... actively promoting what is an extremist and terrorist agenda."

He described Qatar as a "Trojan horse" within the group of Arab monarchies.

--IANS

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