Arab quartet meeting on Qatar to convene on Wednesday

CAIRO – 2 July, 2017: At an invitation from Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, a quartet meeting would be held with his counterparts of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain on the Arab’s dispute with Qatar on Wednesday, stated Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid in a statement on Sunday.

“The meeting comes within the framework of coordination and consultation among the four countries on the future steps to deal with Qatar, and of exchange views and evaluating the international and regional communications in this regard, the statement read.

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani will hand Kuwaiti Emir Sabah bin Ahmed al-Sabah Doha’s response to the Arab countries’ demands on Monday, Al-Arabyia new reported on Sunday.

Arab and Gulf countries, mainly Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, severed their ties with Qatar over accusations of “supporting terrorist group.” The four countries also have sent Doha an ultimatum of 13-point demands that should be carried out in 10 days to end this stand-off.

The deadline to accept the 13 demands will expire on Sunday night. The demands include cutting diplomatic ties with Turkey, shutting down al Jazeera channels, and stop funding terrorist groups.

In a press conference held on Sunday, Thani said that the Arab demands are against the international law, adding that such demands “made to be rejected”, Al-Khaleej Online reported on Saturday. But he added that Doha is ready for dialogue and to discuss the issue.

They also labeled a total of 59 individuals and 12 organizations, have ties with Qatar, as “terrorists”, and had closed their airspace and maritime navigation for the Qatari transportation early June.