Speaking during a joint press conference with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel in Wolfenbuttel, Germany yesterday, the Foreign Minister said that these measures had damaged the social fabric of the Gulf, pointing out that such measures were not taken against hostile countries.
He expressed surprise that such measures were taken against a sisterly country which is an integral part of the Gulf Co-operation Council.
He thanked his German counterpart for his courageous stance and solidarity with Qatar, which was based on principles before the interests, especially with regard to economic, air, sea and land siege, which is considered collective punishment by three countries of the GCC against Qatar, the Foreign Minister added.
He said that the meeting with his German counterpart dealt with the background of the crisis, which was based on a media escalation according to exacerbated fabrications that led to the point of severing diplomatic relations and siege of the land borders and closing the airspace and ports.
He pointed out that this matter started from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in co-ordination with Egypt.
The minister said “there is a mobilisation for the inclusion of other countries in this list and we do not know the reasons for this mobilisation against Qatar in this way, wondering what was the crime committed to deserve this collective punishment, which violates all international laws.”
He stressed that Qatar’s strategic choice is dialogue despite the successive escalation by these countries, pointing out the efforts of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah to resolve the crisis.
“There is also support and efforts from many friendly countries to contain this crisis and lift this unjust blockade of the State of Qatar and then the start of negotiations.”
HE the Foreign Minister said that there were a lot of question marks raised over the terrorist list issued on Friday night by the four countries mentioned. He added that the list was the latest in a series of false accusations that lack any proof.
For his part, German Foreign Minister Gabriel said that Qatar was a strategic partner in counter-terrorism efforts.
He stressed his country’s rejection of severing ties and enforcing a blockade on Qatar as unacceptable.
He noted that there must be a resolution and a lifting of aerial and maritime blockade enforced on Qatar.
He highlighted that Qatar was an important part of the international coalition against ISIS and added that there shouldn’t be a desire to weaken that coalition, and that the focus should turn to ISIS once the Qatar crisis ends.
HE the Foreign Minister met yesterday with President of the German Bundestag Prof Norbert Lammert.
He also met with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel. The two sides discussed relations between the two countries and means of boosting them, besides the developments in Syria, Yemen, Libya and the region in general.
In Brussels, the Foreign Minister met with High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
Talks during the meetings dealt with the developments in the region.
