President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed AlNahyan in Cairo yesterday to discuss efforts to combat terrorism and those who provide terrorist groups with funding and media and political coverage (a not so subtle reference to Qatar and Al Jazeera), according to an Ittihadiya statement. Reuters notes that these two were not referenced by name, though clearly alluded to. El Sisi and Al Nahyan’s meeting is their first since Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain collectively severed their diplomatic ties with Qatar two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani said negotiations to resolve the spat are contingent on the lifting of trade and travel blockades Egypt and the GCC countries imposed on Qatar, according to Reuters. Al-Thani said that Doha is prepared to engage in “a proper dialogue” to address the Arab states’ concerns and that a solution is possible. The UAE’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anwar Gargash said the four countries have no intention of backing down from these punitive measures until Qatar responds to their demands, a list of which he said will be sent to Doha in a few days’ time.