Doha has not taken positive steps towards ending dispute with Arab states: Egypt FM
Ahram Online , Thursday 19 Oct 2017


Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry said on Thursday that Egypt and other Arab states that are in a diplomatic row with Qatar are still concerned about Doha, which Shoukry says has not taken the necessary steps to end the dispute.

"We have not seen a positive reaction from the Qatar's government," Shoukry said at a press conference with his Portuguese counterpart in Cairo, according to state news agency MENA.

In June, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE severed diplomatic and transport links with Doha, accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism and meddling in their internal affairs, sparking the region's worst diplomatic dispute in years.

Doha has denied these accusations.

Shoukry said the four countries are holding to their demands of Doha so as to ensure their national security and that of the region, adding that the recent measures taken against Qatar have relatively "restored stability" in the region.

The four nations have demanded that Doha commit to combating terrorism and ending what they describe as acts of incitement and interference in the internal affairs of other Arab countries.

They also demand that Qatar abide by a list of 13 demands, which include ending its support for the Muslim Brotherhood group, shutting down the Doha-based Al-Jazeera media company, closing a Turkish military base and downgrading its relationship with Iran.

The information ministers of Egypt the other Arab states are set to hold talks about the ongoing diplomatic rift in Manama, Bahrain on 25 October.

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