Egypt, Bahrain renew support for Qatar blockade

Egypt and Bahrain yesterday announced that they were committed to the “13 demands, including six principals” recently proposed by the four Arab countries, who have cut ties with Qatar since June 2017, in an attempt to resolve the crisis.

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing the Gulf state of supporting and financing terrorism. Qatar denies the allegations, claiming that it faces a campaign to intervene in Doha’s internal affairs.

The two countries’ remarks came during a meeting between the Prime Minister of Bahrain, Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, and the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, who is currently on a visit to Manama to chair the 10th session of the Joint Egyptian-Bahraini Commission.

The two Arab officials claimed that the “Qatari attempts to circumvent the blockade countries’ demands would prolong the crisis.” They also hailed what they described as “Kuwaiti state’s efforts to end the crisis.”

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Shoukry stressed that Egypt was committed to the security and stability of the Gulf region, which he said was “an integral part of Egypt’s national security”.

“Egypt rejects any external interference,” he added.

The Egyptian official reiterated his country’s keenness to boost its bilateral relations with Bahrain in various fields. He hoped that the joint commission “yield to concrete results, boost bilateral relations, serve the regions common goals, and fulfill the two countries’ ambitions and aspirations.”