Qatar to talk to Saudi-led bloc 'without preconditions'

King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz (L) is welcomed with an official ceremony by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (R) at Royal Palace in Doha, Qatar on 5 December 2016 [Bandar Algaloud/ Saudi Kingdom/ Handout]

Qatar’s foreign minister on Monday voiced his country’s readiness to discuss possible means of resolving an ongoing crisis in inter-Arab relations – which first erupted in 2017 – “without preconditions”, says Anadolu Agency.

READ: Saudi, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain planned to invade in Qatar in 1996

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani made the remarks at a joint press conference in Doha with African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki, according to Al Jazeera.

Qatar is ready to enter dialogue without preconditions. But dialogue means that both sides should be committed to finding a solution.

On Sunday, Qatari officials discussed the issue with visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to whom they stressed the importance of restoring Arab unity.

In June of 2017, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain abruptly severed all ties with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

Timeline: Arab rift with Qatar

Qatar has vociferously denied the accusations, describing the Saudi-led embargo as a violation of international law and its national sovereignty.

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