Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir yesterday said the Gulf states could resolve the ongoing row among themselves without outside help.
“We have not asked for mediation, we believe this issue can be dealt with among the states of the Gulf Co-operation Council,” al-Jubeir said in Berlin during at a joint press conference with German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel.
He added that he had not been officially informed of any US investigation into the hacking of Qatar’s news agency, a development that is part of the dispute.
“With regard to measures undertaken by the FBI, I’ve read in the media but have not been informed of anything official and I can’t express an official position,” al-Jubeir told reporters.
Describing Qatar as a “brother state, a partner”, Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat said: “We have taken these steps in the interest of Qatar... and in the interest of security and stability in the region.
“And we hope that our brother Qatar will now take the right steps in order to end this crisis.”
Gabriel said Germany was “worried about the possible consequences and a growing escalation” after the “very tough” measures taken against Qatar.
Berlin’s main concern was to “de-escalate the conflict” and rebuild Gulf regional co-operation, saying that “we need this co-operation in the anti-IS coalition”.
Mercedes Benz models recalled for faulty control unit
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, has announced the recall of Mercedes Benz E-Class, GLA-Class, GL-Class and S-Class models of 2013-2016 because the control unit coding does not correspond to specifications.
The MEC said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
The MEC will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
The MEC has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar
British official holds talks with Qatar’s envoy
The Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the British Foreign Office Neil Crompton met Qatar’s ambassador to the United Kingdom Yousef Ali al-Khater in London yesterday. They discussed bilateral relations between Qatar and the UK and ways of developing them in addition to matters of common concern.
Qatar-Nepal relations discussed
Shanker Das Bairagi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, met Qatar’s ambassador to Nepal Yousef Ahmed al-Hail in Kathmandu yesterday. The meeting discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of advancing and developing them in addition to issues of common concern.
