Our policy with Qatar aims to change behavior not regime: Jubeir

CAIRO – 8 November 2017: Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that the policy Saudi Arabia is adopting, in the case of Qatar, is not regime change but behavior change, in an interview with CNN on Monday.

"Our policy aims to stop supporting terrorism, we do not aim to interfere in the affairs of other countries, spread hate speech, or incite through your media platforms," Jubeir said.

Referring to the Qatari regime, Jubeir said, “They still have a way to go, but they cannot fix their problems unless they acknowledge that they have a problem.”

Commenting on hopes for compromise, Jubeir said, “When it comes to terrorism, extremism and harboring fugitives there can be no compromise.”

“I believe the steps the four countries have taken are now forcing Qatar to begin acting,” Jubeir stated.

On June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic ties with Qatar over accusations of sponsoring terrorist groups. The Quartet demanded that Doha halts funding to terrorists in the region and meets a list of 13 demands that the Quartet have earlier outlined, in order for dialogue to begin.