Egyptian Foreign Affairs Sameh Hassan Shoukry gives a joint press with High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission and European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations after an EU-Egypt Association Council meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels on July 25, 2017. (Photo: AFP)
Egypt told the European Union diplomatic chief on Tuesday that the four main Arab states boycotting Qatar would not compromise in their demands for Doha.
Speaking in a press conference in Brussels following talks with European Union diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini, Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry said that Doha must accept demands issued by Egypt, Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to end the dispute.
The four countries recently cut ties with Qatar over what they say is Doha's support of terrorism.
"It is not an issue of compromise, we cannot compromise with any form of terrorism, we cannot compromise or enter into any form of negotiation," Shoukry was quoted as saying by the AFP.
"The crisis will be resolved only when Qatar truly accepts being a partner in the fight against terrorism," he said.
Shoukry said Qatar has been "harbouring elements associated with terrorist ideologies that have utilised [Qatar's] media outlets to promote, justify and glorify terrorist activity."
The four countries have demanded that Doha comply with six principles including commitment to combating terrorism and ending acts of incitement and interference in the affairs of other Arab countries.
The foreign ministry condemned in a statement what it called the European Union's "passive position in addressing the danger of terrorism and radicalism," with Mogherini assuring that the 28-state body is making all necessary effort in this regard.
"The European Union is determined to do all it can to put in place more binding instruments, including monitoring mechanisms, on the control of the financing of terrorist organisations," Mogherini said.
"We in Europe see this as a need not just for one country, but for all countries."
Mogherini met two days ago with the emir of Kuwait, which has been acting as a mediator since the beginning of the crisis with Doha.
She said the EU believes the mediation efforts "can and should start as a matter of urgency," adding that the EU will continue "to have good relations with all the countries involved."
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