(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar has a good record of combating and countering terrorism and the US can verify this fact, HE the foreign minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani yesterday said.
He said Qatar has taken steps against funds going to terrorist organisations and Washington can verify that Doha has not supported terrorism.
Speaking at the Arab Centre in Washington, DC, he said the siege of his country by its neighbours is a clear act of aggression 'that violated international law and against its sovereignty.
'Qatar is prepared to work together with other Gulf countries blockading it in order to reach a resolution to the diplomatic crisis, HE the Foreign Minister said, stressing, however, that his country will not discuss any measures that impinge on its sovereignty.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed sanctions on it on June 5, accusing it of supporting 'terrorism. The allegation is rejected by Doha.
'The response of Qatar has been purposefully measured, yet unequivocal, Sheikh Mohamed said in Washington, DC, where he had been holding a series of key meetings aimed at defusing the crisis.
'These hostile actions were based on unsubstantiated claims and false assumptions. Evidence is yet to be presented.
Speaking to reporters, the Foreign Minister reiterated Qatar's position that the list was unreasonable, describing it as an 'effort to undermine our foreign policy and national sovereignty.
His comments came at the end of a several-days trip to Washington, where he met key leaders, including US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
He said Qatar was working with the US and Kuwait to respond to a list of demands presented by its Arab neighbours.
'Regarding the ten days deadline, we are working together with the Americans and the Kuwaitis in order to prepare the proper (responses) ... to the list which has been submitted to us, Sheikh Mohamed said.
In a statement he said: 'We cannot sever links with so-called Islamic State, Al Qaeda and Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah because no such links exist. And we cannot expel any members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard because there are none in Qatar.
He said the demands were 'meant to be rejected and that they informed Tillerson that the demands were 'unrealistic.
The Foreign Minister also spoke about the importance of the US-Qatar economic partnership at a meeting with the US Chamber of Commerce.
CEO of the Qatar Investment Authority Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohamed al-Thani, and His Highness the Emir's Adviser on Investment Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani also attended the meeting.
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