Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain to Hold Talks in Manama Over Qatar Row

Ahram Online
Friday 28 Jul 2017

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is to fly to Bahrain on Saturday to take part in a two-day meeting discussing the ongoing Qatar row with his counterparts from the three other Arab states boycotting the small Gulf country, the foreign ministry said.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE severed diplomatic and transport links with Doha on 5 June, accusing the oil-rich state of supporting terrorism and meddling in their internal affairs, in the region's worst diplomatic dispute in years.

The quartet demand that Doha comply with six principles including commitment to combating terrorism and ending acts of incitement and interference in the internal affairs of other Arab countries.

The demands were announced during a Cairo meeting earlier this month between the foreign ministries of the four Arab states.

That meeting and the upcoming 29-30 July gathering in Bahrain's capital, Manama, aim to "coordinate the stances of the four Arab countries, assert their demands for Qatar and assess [Doha's] commitment to end its support for terrorism and interference in the internal affairs" of other Arab countries, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement.

Egyptian officials have vowed they will not compromise on their demands for Doha, which says is committed to fighting terrorism.

Qatar's officials say the blockade by the four Arab states, in which they closed their airspace and waters to Qatari flights and shipping and ordered its citizens to leave, is illegal.

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