Berlin- Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir reaffirmed on Wednesday that the boycott by three GCC states against Qatar is a punitive step in an effort to stop its support for extremism.

Speaking in a Berlin joint press conference with German FM Sigmar Gabriel, the top diplomat also said efforts would be made to resolve the conflict within the Gulf Cooperation Council.

“We see Qatar as a brother state, as a partner,” he told reporters. “But you have to be able to tell your friend or your brother when they are doing the right thing and when they are doing the wrong thing.”

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain are among seven states that have cut diplomatic ties and many major transport links with Qatar.

Jubeir said that “for many years Qatar has taken steps to support certain organizations”.

“This has been condemned in the past, but unfortunately we have not received appropriate cooperation on this and that’s why these measures have now been taken.”

He added that “we have taken these steps in the interest of Qatar… and in the interest of security and stability in the region”.

“And we hope that our brother Qatar will now take the right steps in order to end this crisis.”

Jubeir stated on Wednesday there was no specific trigger for the decision to cut ties with Qatar, but said there was a long list of grievances.