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Arab states send Qatar 13 demands to end crisis

The countries give Doha 10 days to comply. The list was handed over to Qatar by Kuwait, which is mediating in the dispute. Qatar denies any support for terrorism.

Four Arab states boycotting Qatar over alleged support for terrorism have sent Doha a list of 13 demands including closing Al Jazeera television and reducing ties to their regional adversary Iran, an official of one of the four countries said.

 

The list, compiled by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain as the price for ending the worst Gulf Arab crisis in years, also demands the closing of a Turkish military base in Qatar, the official told Reuters.

Qatar must also announce it is severing ties with terrorist, ideological and sectarian organisations including the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State, al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Jabhat Fateh al Sham, formerly al Qaeda's branch in Syria, he said, and surrender all designated terrorists on its territory,

The countries give Doha 10 days to comply, failing which the list becomes 'void', the official said without elaborating. The demands were handed to Qatar by Kuwait, which is mediating in the dispute, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The four Arab countries accuse Qatar of funding terrorism, fomenting regional instability and cosying up to revolutionary theocracy Iran. Qatar has denied the accusations.

US President Donald Trump has taken a tough stance on Qatar, accusing it of being a "high level" sponsor of terrorism, but he has also offered help to the parties in the dispute to resolve their differences.

Turkey has backed Qatar during the three-week-old crisis. It sent its first ship carrying food aid to Qatar and dispatched a small contingent of soldiers and armoured vehicles there on Thursday, while President Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Saudi Arabia's leaders on calming tension in the region.

Here is the full list of demands:

  • Qatar must reduce diplomatic representation with Iran.
  • Qatar must immoderately shut down the Turkish military base that is being established, and halt any military co-operation with Turkey in Qatar.
  • Qatar must announce severance of ties with terrorist, ideological and sectarian orgs, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State, Al Qaeda and Hizbollah; and designate them as terrorists.
  • Qatar must cease any funding activities to extremist and terrorist individuals, entities and organisations.
  • Qatar must hand over all designated terrorists, wanted by the four countries; freeze their assets; stop hosting others in the future.
  • Qatar must shut down Al Jazeera and all affiliated channels.
  • Qatar must stop interference in other countries' domestic + foreign affairs. 
  • Qatar must provide reparations to these countries for any opportunity costs incurred over the past few years because of Qatari policies.
  • Qatar must get in sync with its Gulf and Arab neighbourhood on all levels.
  • Qatar must provide all databases related to oppositionists that it provided support to and clarify what help was provided.
  • Qatar must declare all media outlets backed by it directly or indirectly.
  • These demands must be agreed within 10 days, otherwise they would be invalidated.
  • The agreement will involve clear goals and a reporting mechanism – monthly reports in the first year, every three months and then annually for 10 years.

The blockade has had an immediate effect on Qatar, which has imported cows to maintain its milk supply and battled to keep its tight currency peg with the dollar.

Earlier this month shares in the country's banks fell sharply after the UAE central bank told its lenders to stop dealing with 59 individuals with links to Qatar and carry out enhanced due diligence on their activities with six Qatari banks. 

Source: indiatoday

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