Qatar committed to dialogue to resolve differences: FM

Moscow: Minister of Foreign Affair H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to the approach of dialogue in resolving differences with some neighbouring countries, and said the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is the most appropriate framework for resolving differences in the region.

During his official talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow yesterday, the Foreign Minister said that his visit to Moscow was aimed at informing the Russian Federation of the illegal measures taken against the State of Qatar and thanked the Russian institutions that offered their assistance during the crisis.

The Foreign Minister referred to the friendly relations between Qatar and the Russian Federation. He said that Russia plays an important role on the international arena. He expressed hope that the joint cooperation between the two countries would continue in various fields.

The Russian Foreign Minister expressed his country's concern about the crisis of severing relations with Qatar and asserted Russia's support for resolving the crisis through dialogue. He stressed Russia's non-interference in the affairs of other countries and said: "We can not be satisfied with the current situation and deteriorating relations between neighbours.

Lavrov expressed his concerns over the recent diplomatic row over Qatar, saying that Moscow will try its best to help resolve the crisis. "We, as a matter of policy, do not interfere with either home affairs of other countries or with their bilateral relations,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russia's official Tass news agency.

“However, we cannot be pleased with the situation, where these relations between our counterparts are aggravating,” Russian Foreign Minister said.

Lavrov said that Moscow was ready to do everything “in the interest of the involved parties” to help resolve the diplomatic crisis.

"Only by means of direct dialogue is it possible to better understand each other’s concerns, to consider ways to overcome those concerns, to have transparency in all issues," he added. 

“It is important to see beyond the events the main thing — and the main threat both for the region’s country and beyond the region, we believe, is terrorism."

Lavrov also called on the Arab League, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and all the countries inside or outside the region to unite in order to resolve the row. Qatar has strenuously denied accusations that it is a supporter of terrorism.

The aim of Foreign Minister's visit was to inform Russia about the recent “unjustified” steps taken against Qatar. Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar believes that all the disputes can be resolved through dialogue and that the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG) is the best platform for a solution. In his statement, the Qatari diplomat also thanked all the Russian firms which have offered help to overcome the crisis.

Al Thani later told in a TV interview in Moscow that US President Donald Trump listened other countries' false views claiming Qatar is supporting terrorism. 

"It was strange that Trump's statements were based on the views of the presidents of countries that took a political stance against Qatar," he stated. 

Qatari minister also stressed that they spent great efforts in fight against terrorism in cooperation with US administration and other partner governments. 

His response came after Trump's comment on Friday who said: "... the time had come to call on Qatar to end its funding, they have to end that funding, and its extremist ideology in terms of funding.”

Al Thani also said that the campaign of the neighbouring countries against Qatar "shocked us," stating that it was first initiated in the media before the measures and based on fabricated reports following the cyber attack on Qatar News Agency.