Dialogue should continue to solve row between Qatar and Arab states peacefully, says Turkish foreign minister
Ankara wants a peaceful solution to the diplomatic rift between five Arab states and Qatar, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Monday.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Egypt announced Monday that they were cutting off all diplomatic relations with Qatar, citing national security concerns.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Ankara with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel, Cavusoglu said that Turkey is ready to help however it can to bring the disputes to a manageable level.
“Dialogue should be continued under all circumstances so the existing problems can be solved in a peaceful way,” he said.
He expressed Turkey’s “sorrow” at the decisions to cut off ties, citing the importance of regional unity and solidarity.
“Turkey sees the unity and solitary among Gulf states as our own unity,” he said.
Unity among the countries of the region is important for fighting Daesh, radicalism, islamophobia, and sectarianism, he added.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were the first to sever all diplomatic ties with Qatar, citing national security concerns.
Cairo blamed the Qatari government for “hostile attitudes,” sheltering the Muslim Brotherhood on its soil, and backing terror groups threatening the country’s national security.
Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry accused the Qatari government of destabilizing the country’s security and stability and interfering in its affairs.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged the countries of the Gulf to resolve the issue.
“We certainly would encourage the parties to sit down together and address these differences,” he said.
