Egyptian FM, U.S. envoys discuss resolving crisis with Qatar

CAIRO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Monday with U.S. envoys about possible ways to resolve a diplomatic crisis between Qatar and four other Arab countries, including Egypt.

In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry said that Shoukry received in Cairo Timothy Lenderking, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Gulf affairs, and former U.S. Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni.

In June last year, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed relations with Qatar, accusing the oil rich Gulf country of supporting terrorism. Qatar rejects the allegations as "baseless."

The four Arab countries also issued a list of 13 demands for Doha to end the crisis, including reducing its ties with Iran and closing the Qatari Al-Jazeera TV station.

Under the list, Qatar is also required to immediately terminate its construction of a Turkish military base in addition to severing all ties with "terrorist organizations" including the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic State, al-Qaida, Lebanon's Hezbollah and Fatah al-Sham, formerly known as Nusra Front, and label them as terrorist groups.

Shoukry raised the concerns of Egypt and the other countries of Qatar's continued negative role in sponsoring terrorism and extremism, "either materially or by providing safe haven to terrorists, or spreading the discourse of hatred and incitement," which endangers the security of the four countries, the statement said.

According to the statement, the Egyptian top diplomat was briefed by the U.S. envoys about the results of the meetings they held during their tour in the region.

The foreign minister stressed that there is consensus among the four countries that Qatar should implement their list of demands, adding that the Arab countries have demonstrated on more than one occasion seriousness in dealing with the crisis. Enditem