DUBAI: With just days to decide, Qatar on Friday weighed an onerous list of demands by its neighbours as a way out of a regional crisis, and a top Emirati official warned the tiny country to brace for a long-term economic squeeze unless it is willing to acquiesce.

Qatar did not immediately respond after receiving a clear set of demands for the first time, but the ultimatum was quickly rejected by its ally, Turkey, and blasted as an assault on free speech by Al Jazeera, the Qatari broadcaster that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others are demanding to be shut down.

Qatar’s neighbours insisted the 13-point list of demands was their bottom line, not a starting point for negotiations. The Arab countries signalled that if Qatar refuses to comply by the 10-day deadline, they will continue to restrict its access to land, sea and air routes indefinitely amid mounting economic pressure on the Persian Gulf nation.

“The measures that have been taken are there to stay until there is a long-term solution to the issue,” Yousef al-Otaiba, ambassador to the US from the United Arab Emirates, said.

Still, he suggested the penalties would only be economic and diplomatic, adding: “There is no military element to this whatsoever.” The demands from Qatar’s neighbours amount to a call for a sweeping overhaul of Qatar’s foreign policy and hydrocarbon-funded influence peddling in the region. Complying would force Qatar to bring its policies in line with the regional vision of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East’s biggest economy and gatekeeper of Qatar’s only land border.

They include shutting news outlets, including Al Jazeera and its affiliates; curbing diplomatic relations with Iran; and severing all ties with Islamist groups including the Muslim Brotherhood. The AP obtained a copy of the list in Arabic from one of the countries in the dispute.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut ties with Qatar over allegations that it funds terrorism an accusation Doha rejects but that President Donald Trump has echoed. The move has left Qatar under a de facto blockade by its neighbours.

“This is an Arab issue that requires an Arab solution,” Otaiba said. “That’s why the Kuwaitis will take the lead in the negotiation.” As the UAE and the others demanded Qatar terminate the Turkish military presence in the country, Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said the Turkish base aims to train Qatari soldiers and increase its security. The head of Al Jazeera’s English language service said the network remained committed to continuing its broadcasts.

“Any call to close to down or curtail Al Jazeera is nothing but an attempt to muzzle a voice of democracy in the region and suppress freedom of expression,” he said by phone.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2017