US says some demands made by GCC neighbours to lift blockade very difficult to meet
Two weeks after the illegal blockade on Qatar started, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE submitted a list of 13 demands which Qatar will have to fulfil, within 10 days, for the blockade to be lifted.
However, Qatar rejected those demands saying they were neither reasonable nor actionable.
And now, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has added his weight behind Qatar’s position, saying some demands on Qatar by Arab countries imposing the blockade against it “will be very difficult to meet.”
In a statement, the top US diplomat added, however, that the list submitted by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt includes ‘significant areas which provide a basis for ongoing dialogue leading to a resolution.’
“A productive next step would be for each of the countries to sit together and continue this conversation,” said Tillerson, confirming that Qatar has begun the review of the demands.
“We believe our allies and partners are stronger when they’re working together towards one goal which we all agree is stopping terrorism and countering extremism,” Tillerson said.
Tillerson also called for a lowering of rhetoric to ease the tension in the Gulf region following the blockade.
“Each country involved has something to contribute to the effort. A lowering of rhetoric would also help ease the tension. The United States will continue to stay in close contact with all parties and will continue to support the mediation efforts of the Emir of Kuwait,” the statement added.
Qatar faces the prospect of diplomatic isolation in the long-term if it does not accept the demands made by its Gulf neighbours to end the ongoing dispute, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) minister warned.
The list of 13 demands include downgrading ties with Iran, stopping support for Islamist groups, closing a Turkish military base in Qatar and shutting down the Doha-based television broadcaster Al Jazeera and its channels.