*Doha ready for talks; Qatar against terrorism in all its types and forms, says Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
*'Arab-Japanese relations a model of co-operation and constructive understanding'
Qatar has not acted against the minutes of Riyadh Accords 2013-2014, but the blockading countries have not responded to Doha's proposal for talks to resolve the GCC crisis, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Arab League Council meeting at the foreign ministers' level in Cairo, he said the siege nations have tried, using all means, to grab the sovereignty of Qatar through imposing an illegal blockade with the consequent diplomatic, political, economic, and religious impacts.
He said that the demands put forward by the blockading countries were not implementable in nature, and "this is the point of view of the mediators who want to resolve the crisis, because the demands clearly interfere in the internal affairs of states and it is hard to abide by them".
HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Monday that Qatar was surprised at Saudi Arabia going back on what has been agreed during the telephone conversation between His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
Sheikh Mohamed said at press conference on the sidelines of a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Genèva that the real purpose behind imposing the blockade on Qatar was not fighting terrorism but imposing guardianship on the country and breaching its sovereignty and meddling in its internal affairs.
Al-Muraikhi reiterated the readiness of Doha to talk to end the Gulf crisis, in the framework of mutual respect. He also stressed the steadfast stand of Qatar against terrorism in all its types and forms.
Referring to the thousands of camels left stranded on the border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia after borders were closed, al-Muraikhi said: "Even the animals were not spared, you sent them out savagely."
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic and trade links with Qatar on June 5, falsely accusing Doha of supporting Islamists. Qatar denies the charges and calls the economic boycott a "siege" aimed at neutering an independent foreign policy it says promotes peaceful regional reform and fighting terrorism.
Kuwait has been trying to mediate in the dispute.
Qatar also participated in the first session of the ministerial meeting of the Arab-Japanese political dialogue held at the Arab league headquarters in Cairo.
HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who headed the Qatari delegation to the meeting, condemned the attack on the Egyptian police in North Sinai, reiterating Qatar's firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism regardless of motives and reasons, and expressed Qatar's condolences to the families of the victims and the Egyptian people.
Addressing the meeting, al-Muraikhi underlined the importance of the joint meeting between the Arab foreign ministers and Japan's foreign minister, adding that it reflected the keenness and desire of the Arab countries and Japan to deepen their political relations and advance their distinguished relations to wider horizons of cooperation, through further understanding.
He said that the history of Arab-Japanese relations was full of models of cooperation and constructive understanding. He pointed out that the relations between the two sides had witnessed great developments over the past ten years. The level of political consultation on international and regional issues of common interest had risen to high levels in light of the great convergence between the two sides in the visions towards the international issues such as international security, disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, counter-terrorism, violent extremism, reform of the United Nations system, the Security Council and others.
The minister said at the economic level, the Arab-Japanese relations reflect a model of positive cooperation that should be followed.
Al-Muraikhi appreciated Japan's steadfast and supportive stands for Arab issues, foremost among which is the support of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, the establishment of their independent state, the implementation of international resolutions, condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli settlement activities and their violation of international law.
He stressed that Japan was one of the most important trading partners of Qatar. He pointed out that bilateral trade exceeded $12bn during the past year.
Speaking at the Arab League Council meeting at the foreign ministers' level in Cairo, he said the siege nations have tried, using all means, to grab the sovereignty of Qatar through imposing an illegal blockade with the consequent diplomatic, political, economic, and religious impacts.
He said that the demands put forward by the blockading countries were not implementable in nature, and "this is the point of view of the mediators who want to resolve the crisis, because the demands clearly interfere in the internal affairs of states and it is hard to abide by them".
HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Monday that Qatar was surprised at Saudi Arabia going back on what has been agreed during the telephone conversation between His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
Sheikh Mohamed said at press conference on the sidelines of a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Genèva that the real purpose behind imposing the blockade on Qatar was not fighting terrorism but imposing guardianship on the country and breaching its sovereignty and meddling in its internal affairs.
Al-Muraikhi reiterated the readiness of Doha to talk to end the Gulf crisis, in the framework of mutual respect. He also stressed the steadfast stand of Qatar against terrorism in all its types and forms.
Referring to the thousands of camels left stranded on the border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia after borders were closed, al-Muraikhi said: "Even the animals were not spared, you sent them out savagely."
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic and trade links with Qatar on June 5, falsely accusing Doha of supporting Islamists. Qatar denies the charges and calls the economic boycott a "siege" aimed at neutering an independent foreign policy it says promotes peaceful regional reform and fighting terrorism.
Kuwait has been trying to mediate in the dispute.
Qatar also participated in the first session of the ministerial meeting of the Arab-Japanese political dialogue held at the Arab league headquarters in Cairo.
HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who headed the Qatari delegation to the meeting, condemned the attack on the Egyptian police in North Sinai, reiterating Qatar's firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism regardless of motives and reasons, and expressed Qatar's condolences to the families of the victims and the Egyptian people.
Addressing the meeting, al-Muraikhi underlined the importance of the joint meeting between the Arab foreign ministers and Japan's foreign minister, adding that it reflected the keenness and desire of the Arab countries and Japan to deepen their political relations and advance their distinguished relations to wider horizons of cooperation, through further understanding.
He said that the history of Arab-Japanese relations was full of models of cooperation and constructive understanding. He pointed out that the relations between the two sides had witnessed great developments over the past ten years. The level of political consultation on international and regional issues of common interest had risen to high levels in light of the great convergence between the two sides in the visions towards the international issues such as international security, disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, counter-terrorism, violent extremism, reform of the United Nations system, the Security Council and others.
The minister said at the economic level, the Arab-Japanese relations reflect a model of positive cooperation that should be followed.
Al-Muraikhi appreciated Japan's steadfast and supportive stands for Arab issues, foremost among which is the support of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, the establishment of their independent state, the implementation of international resolutions, condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli settlement activities and their violation of international law.
He stressed that Japan was one of the most important trading partners of Qatar. He pointed out that bilateral trade exceeded $12bn during the past year.