Saudi FM says action against Qatar aiming to change its policy

RIYADH - Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir asserted on Sunday that the action against Qatar aims to change its policy, Al Arabiya TV reported.

Al-Jubeir told a press conference after the end of the 39th Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

He said that the member states are keen that the crisis with Qatar would have no impact on the council.

"The stance towards Qatar came to push it to change its policies," according to al-Jubeir.

Qatar was represented in the summit by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt have been imposing a diplomatic and economic boycott on Qatar since June 2017 over allegations that the gas-rich Gulf country supports terrorism and interferes in their domestic affairs, which Doha has repeatedly denied.

GCC Secretary General Abdul Latif al-Zayani said at the closing session of the summit that a roadmap would be developed to achieve the council's objectives to ensure the interests of citizens while enhancing security in the region as well as the regional and international role of the GCC.

The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.