Qatar had provided funds to Iraq in an “official, clear and public manner” to support the efforts of the Iraqi authorities to secure the release of Qatari nationals abducted in Iraq, Foreign Minister HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has said.
The minister stressed that the money was not smuggled into Iraq, as claimed by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi at a press conference on Tuesday.
In a statement to Al Jazeera late Wednesday, the Foreign Minister said the Qatari nationals and others accompanying them were issued visas and were under the protection of the Iraqi security authorities when they were kidnapped. He expressed surprise over Abadi’s statement that he was not happy with issuing of these visas.
After nearly a year-and-a-half in captivity, Qatar on Friday secured the release of the 26 hostages, who were welcomed by HH the Emir upon their arrival at Doha airport.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed his surprise at Abadi’s statement about Iraq being unaware of the details of the talks aimed at securing the release of the Qatari nationals, clarifying that the Iraqi officials were fully aware of the negotiations.
The Foreign Minister said the Iraqi authorities had during more than one meeting asked the  Qatari authorities to “support” the process of freeing the hostages.
“Qatar wanted to provide support to the Iraqi authorities and if it would not need this support, the funds would be returned to Qatar through appropriate legal procedures,” he said. 
These funds had been transferred to Iraq publicly and did not have the diplomatic stamp on it to be spared inspection. 
The Foreign Minister emphasised Qatar’s commitment to honour the sovereignty of states and international laws and not to get involved in money laundering issues, adding that the funds were transferred to Iraq officially and “would get out of there also officially”.
The funds would be at the disposal of the Iraqi authorities, he said. “These funds if used by the Iraqi government to support these militias ... this is an Iraqi issue and not a Qatari one,” he added.

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