Qatari FM: We received no ‘list of demands’ from Gulf countries

“Are differences of opinion solved by taking measures before or after first exhausting all mechanisms of diplomacy and dialogue?” asked al-Thani in a televised news conference

Qatari Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed Abdurrahman al-Thani said Qatar has not received any “list of requests” from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, after several news reports claimed that the three gulf countries had sent complaints to the tiny monarchy since the crisis erupted last week.

Speaking in a televised conference, al-Thani noted that reports regarding such a list were false, noting that the Kuwaiti mediator, Emir Shaikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah had devoted considerable efforts aimed at “finding out the nature of these grievances.”

‘We’re just confused about what these demands could be’

The Qatari foreign minister pointed that his country is confused by the statements made by officials of Gulf countries. “They say that this is an internal Gulf issue that will be solved by Gulf countries, but then they take their demands to the U.S.,” al-Thani said, noting that “[Qatar] is just confused about what these demands could be.”

‘Their demands are not clear’

Al-Thani also responded to a statement made by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir regarding a list of complaints supposedly prepared by Gulf countries to be sent to Qatar by saying that “These countries’ demands are not clear, then why takes these measures?”

‘We do not accept guardianship’

“Are differences of opinion solved by taking measures before or after first exhausting all mechanisms of diplomacy and dialogue?” asked al-Thani in the same televised news conference, adding that “these measures, like their false accusations, are aimed at forcing Qatar to change its policies or impose guardianship on the country, which we repeatedly said is something we cannot accept.”

The Qatari foreign minister also stressed that Qatar’s strategic choice is to “find a solution to the crisis by sitting at a dialogue table to discuss the issues in a mature and informed way.”

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, along with Egypt, cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing Doha of supporting “extremism” and their regional ally Iran – charges that Qatar has repeatedly denied.