Qatar ‘grateful’ for Turkey's support during blockade

Qatar is “very thankful and grateful” for Turkey’s support during its current diplomatic crisis with neighbouring Gulf states that began earlier this month, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said yesterday.

Turkey has always had a long and strong relationship with Qatar but that nexus does not mean Ankara’s ties to other Gulf nations should be undermined, Al-Thani said at a panel discussion in the US capital that focused on how to resolve the crisis.

“Turkey has been supporting Qatar with supply chain because of the blockade which [has] been effected and, urges the parties to engage in a dialogue,” he said.

Read: Isolation of Qatar may last years

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates abruptly cut ties with Qatar on 5 June, citing Doha’s support for terrorism.

Doha denies the accusations and has rejected a 13-point list of demands it received from the four countries to restore ties.

Al-Thani said the assertions about Qatar were unfounded and that his country is ready to talk with its neighbours to solve the issues.

As long as it does not violate our independence and our national sovereignty, we are ready to sit down with our neighbours and talk about all the problems.

“The crisis should end with a political solution by the participation of international actors.”

He described as “very productive” a meeting earlier this week with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, three weeks after America voiced confusion over the Saudi-backed embargo of the country.