Qatar says list of demands not realistic

Qatar, however, said it is preparing an official response to the document containing the demands of several Arab countries that have cut ties with it and imposed a blockade against it earlier this month.

Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash told reporters in Dubai that his country and its allies do not want "regime change" in Qatar, but a "behavioral change". The demands included everything from cutting off ties with Iran, closing Turkish military bases, stopping funding to terrorists, shutting down media outlets like Al Jazeera and many more.

Immediate closure of Turkish military base that's being established in Qatar, and stop all military cooperation with Turkey inside Qatar.

The UN aviation agency will hold a special hearing next Friday on Qatar's request to reopen Gulf airspace that was closed to its flights by its neighbours, Qatar's transport minister said on Friday.

Bahrain, Saudi, UAE and Qatar are all members.

The demands aimed at ending the worst Gulf Arab crisis in years appear created to quash a two decade-old foreign policy in which Qatar has punched well above its weight, striding the stage as a peace broker, often in conflicts in Muslim lands.

Additionally, the four nations also demanded that Qatar shut down Al-Jazeera and its affiliate stations, which has always been accused of publicising and fabricating news that incite sedition and support radical thoughts. He reiterated that sanctions imposed on Qatar were an "illegal" attempt at tampering with the nation's sovereignty and urged for them to be reviewed.

It is not surprising that Qatar would be told to sever all ties with Iran, suspend military cooperation, and expel any members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps now in Qatar because the emirate's relationship with Iran has always been a sore point with the Saudi-led alliance of Sunni Muslim nations.

QATAR POSITION: Qatar denies it aids terrorist groups. Qatar has been given 10 days to comply, reports The Guardian.

"NHRC noted that Qatar's acceptance of these demands and conditions would subject the country to worldwide accountability and violate its obligations on human rights conventions".

The most politically explosive demands on the list - assuming Qatar does not explode over being treated like a criminal on probation for supporting terrorism - concern Iran and Turkey. We did question the need, the validity, and motivation behind these arrangements with Qatar, but Saudi Arabia and the three other countries that demanded the closure [of the Turkish base] - are they prepared to demand that closure of U.S. airbase in Qatar, as well?

There was no immediate response from Qatar but Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said earlier that it would not negotiate until the punitive measures were lifted.

It quickly became one of the most widely watched Arabic channels, but it has long drawn the ire of Mideast governments for airing alternative viewpoints, including hosting Israeli officials. Should Qatar agree to the deal, Gargash called for United States and European Union involvement in monitoring its compliance. The Al-Jazeera network it hosts has provided exposure for groups ranging from the Muslim Brotherhood to al-Qaida, and is seen by its critics as a mouthpiece for extremist ideology.

Al-Jazeera said the call to close down the organisation is "nothing but an attempt to silence the freedom of expression in the region and to suppress people's right to information".