Blockade states ready for 'conditioned' Qatar dialogue

By Ahmed al-Masri and Hussein Qabani

MANAMA

Four Arab states imposing a blockade on Qatar said they were ready to engage in a dialogue with Doha if the Gulf country agrees to certain demands.

The new development comes following a meeting of the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in the Bahraini capital Manama on Sunday.

"The four countries are ready for dialogue with Qatar with the condition that it announces its sincere willingness to stop funding terrorism and extremism and its commitment to not interfere in other countries' foreign affairs and respond to the 13 demands," Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa said in a joint statement.

Last month, the four countries severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

They also imposed a land, sea and air blockade on Doha and presented a list of demands for Qatar, including the closure of the pan-Arab Al Jazeera television.

Qatar denies the accusations and contends the blockade violates international law.

By Ahmed al-Masri and Hussein Qabani

MANAMA

Four Arab states imposing a blockade on Qatar said they were ready to engage in a dialogue with Doha if the Gulf country agrees to certain demands.

The new development comes following a meeting of the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in the Bahraini capital Manama on Sunday.

Last month, the four countries severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

They also imposed a land, sea and air blockade on Doha and presented a list of demands for Qatar, including the closure of the pan-Arab Al Jazeera television.

Qatar denies the accusations and contends the blockade violates international law.