GCC Mulls Imposing Sanctions on Qatar, to Meet Sunday

Thursday, 21 August 2014

GCC Mulls Imposing Sanctions on Qatar, to Meet Sunday

The Gulf Cooperation Council was mulling imposing sanctions on Qatar as it is due to meet on Sunday to discuss the issue.

A senior Gulf diplomat told Arab daily Asharq Al Awsat, that Qatar has refused to sign a final report by a GCC committee monitoring the implementation of a Riyadh agreement on ending diplomatic dispute between Doha and other member states.

The diplomat said that Qatar is not serious about implementing the agreement, which bans GCC states from supporting terror-related activities, interfering in the domestic affairs of member states, or adopting policies harmful to them.

The agreement also includes a ban on Qatar granting citizenship to Bahrain's nationals, and a call for "amending the conditions of those whose naturalization process had been suspended."

The report, compiled by a technical committee, is expected to be discussed by a GCC ministerial council in Jeddah on Sunday.

Doha says it has "done all that is required of it," but GCC foreign ministers have insisted Qatar should back up its words with deeds, the official added.

The newspaper also quoted sources as saying the GCC has considered slapping sanctions on Qatar, and more discussions are expected in the next 48 hours.