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The closure of the Qatar-funded broadcaster al-Jazeera is among
13 wide-ranging demands tabled by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States as the
price for lifting a two-week trade and diplomatic embargo of Qatar.
The list,
obtained by Associated Press, marks another escalation in the Gulf’s worst
diplomatic dispute in decades. It also constitutes the first time Saudi Arabia has been prepared to put in writing
the demands it is making of Qatar.
Saudi Arabia and
the other nations leading the blockade – the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and
Egypt – have in recent days been put under pressure by the US state department
to set out specific demands in an effort to help establish a mediation process.
The Saudi-led
alliance regards al-Jazeera, the most widely watched broadcaster in the Arab
world, as a propaganda tool for Islamists that also undermines support for
their governments.
Other key
demands include reducing ties with Iran and closing a Turkish military base.
The list was
handed to Qatar by Kuwait, which is mediating in the crisis. Qatar has
been given 10 days to comply, but the ultimatum is silent on what would happen
if the demands are not met.
The demands in full are:
- Curb
diplomatic ties with Iran and close its diplomatic missions
there. Expel members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and cut off any joint
military cooperation with Iran. Only trade and commerce with Iran that
complies with US and international sanctions will be permitted.
- Sever
all ties to “terrorist organisations”, specifically the Muslim
Brotherhood, Islamic State, al-Qaida and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Formally
declare those entities as terrorist groups.
- Shut
down al-Jazeera and its affiliate stations.
- Shut
down news outlets that Qatar funds, directly and indirectly, including Arabi21, Rassd,
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed and Middle East Eye.
- Immediately terminate the Turkish military presence in Qatar and end any joint
military cooperation with Turkey inside Qatar.
- Stop
all means of funding for individuals, groups or organisations that have
been designated as terrorists by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain,
the US and other countries.
- Hand
over “terrorist figures” and wanted
individuals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to their
countries of origin. Freeze their assets, and provide any desired
information about their residency, movements and finances.
- End
interference in sovereign countries’ internal affairs. Stop granting
citizenship to wanted nationals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and
Bahrain. Revoke Qatari citizenship for existing nationals where such
citizenship violates those countries’ laws.
- Stop
all contacts with the political opposition in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt
and Bahrain.
Hand over all files detailing Qatar’s prior contacts with and support for
those opposition groups.
- Pay reparations and compensation for loss of life and other, financial losses
caused by Qatar’s policies in recent years. The sum will be
determined in coordination with Qatar.
- Consent
to monthly audits for the first year after agreeing to the demands, then once
per quarter during the second year. For the following 10 years, Qatar
would be monitored annually for compliance.
- Align
itself with the other Gulf and Arab countries militarily, politically,
socially and economically, as well as on economic matters, in line
with an agreement reached with Saudi Arabia in 2014.
- Agree to all the demands
within 10 days of it being
submitted to Qatar, or the list becomes invalid.
Turkey’s defence
minister rejected suggestions that it should review its military base in Qatar and
said any demand for its closure would represent interference in Ankara’s
relations with the Gulf state.
Turkey’s defence
minister, Fikri Işık, told broadcaster NTV that he had not seen a demand for
the base to be shut. “The base in Qatar is both a Turkish base and one that
will preserve the security of Qatar and the region,” he said.
There is no
suggestion in the list that there must be regime change inside Qatar.
Nevertheless, it is unlikely that Qatar will see the demands as the basis for
serious negotiations.
Qatar has become
reliant on Turkey, and to a lesser extent Iran, for the supply of food since
since the embargo came into force on 5 June. It has
previously said it would not hold talks until the embargo was lifted.
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