02 July 2017•Update: 02 July 2017
ROME
Qatar will reject the demands issued by four Arab states to end the current diplomatic crisis, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdurrahman Al-Thani said on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters in Rome following his U.S. visit, Al-Thani said, “Qatar will reject a 13-point list of demands formulated by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the U.A.E. and Bahrain in order to restore diplomatic relations with Doha.”
“These demands are against international law and Qatar’s sovereignty rights,” he added.
Last Saturday, Qatar announced it had received a 13-point list of demands by four countries leading the blockade -- Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the U.A.E. and Bahrain.
According to media reports, demands include the closure of the Al Jazeera news channel, the downgrading of Qatar’s ties with Iran, and the extradition of “terrorists” from the country.
The four countries have reportedly given Doha a 10-day deadline to meet their demands.
During his visit in Rome, Al-Thani also held a meeting with his Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano.
The Italian minister said his country would support Kuwait’s mediation role in an attempt to sort out the crisis in the region, according to Italian Foreign Ministry.
The ministry statement said the government in Rome has been following the developments with great concern and is willing to back any attempt to resolve the issue through dialogue.
Gulf crisis erupted on June 5 when Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), Bahrain and Yemen abruptly cut diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing it of interfering into domestic affairs of other countries in the region and supporting terrorist groups.
They also imposed a land, sea, and air blockade on Qatar.
The Qatari government has strongly rejected these accusations and stressed that the blockade was in violation of international law.
*Reporting by Baris Seckin; Writing by Ahmet Sait Akcay
