Four Arab countries list out conditions for Qatar dialogue

The four Arab countries that have cut ties with Qatar

said on Sunday they were ready for talks to tackle the dispute if Doha

showed willingness to deal with their demands.

The

foreign ministers of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab

Emirates met in the Bahraini capital, Manama, to discuss the crisis that

has raised tensions across the region.

(Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa /Reuters Photo‍)

The

Saudi-led bloc cut ties with the Gulf state of Qatar on June 5,

accusing it of backing militant groups and cozying up to their arch-foe

Iran, allegations Doha denies.

Diplomatic efforts led

by Kuwait and backed by Western powers have failed to end the dispute,

in which the four states have severed travel and communications with

Qatar.

"The four countries are ready for dialogue

with Qatar with the condition that it announces its sincere willingness

to stop funding terrorism and extremism and its commitment to not

interfere in other countries' foreign affairs and respond to the 13

demands," Bahrain's foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed

al-Khalifa, told a joint news conference after the meeting.

They announced no new economic sanctions on the Gulf state.

Saudi

Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain previously issued a list of 13 demands

for Qatar, which include curtailing its support for the Muslim

Brotherhood, shutting down the Doha-based Al Jazeera channel, closing a

Turkish military base and downgrading its relations with Iran.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Qatar was not serious in tackling the countries' demands.

"We

are ready to talk with Qatar on the implementation of the demands, on

the implementation of the principles, if Qatar is serious, but it has

been clear that it is not," he said.

The four countries have also listed "six principles" they want Qatar to adopt.

Qatari

Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani dismissed

Sunday's statement from the four countries and said sanctions were

violating international laws.

"There isn't a clear

vision (from Manama's meeting), there is only a stubborn policy from the

blockading countries and refusal to admit that these are illegal

actions," Sheikh Mohammed told Al Jazeera TV channel.

(AFP Photo)

Earlier

on Sunday, al-Hayat newspaper said, citing unidentified Gulf sources,

that the four countries "are expected to impose sanctions that will

gradually affect the Qatari economy."

Saudi Arabia

has closed its land border with Qatar, while all four countries have cut

air and sea links with Doha, demanding the gas-exporting country take

several measures to show it was changing its policies.

The four Arab countries added 18 groups and individuals they say are linked to Qatar to their "terrorist" lists last week.