Qatar ready for talks to end crisis

Doha : Qatar’s ruler said yesterday that the Gulf emirate is ready for dialogue to resolve a diplomatic crisis with the Saudi-led bloc so long as his country’s sovereignty is respected.

“We are open to dialogue to resolve the outstanding problems,” so long as Qatar’s “sovereignty is respected,” Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said in his first public comments since Saudi Arabia and its allies severed ties with Qatar.

“Any settlement of the crisis must be based on two principles,” he said in a televised speech.

Sheikh Tamim insisted that any deal “must not take effect in the form of diktats but rather through mutual commitments undertaken by all the parties”.

“We are open to dialogue to find solutions to lingering problems within the framework of respect for the sovereignty and will of each state as mutual undertakings and joint commitments binding all,” he said.

State media said ahead of the speech that the Amir would address “the future orientation of Qatar in light of the current Gulf crisis”.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut ties with Qatar accusing it of backing extremism and fostering ties with Iran. 

The Amir Shaikh Tamaim said in his speech that Qatar was “fighting terrorism relentlessly and without compromises, and the international community recognises this”. 

The crisis between the regional allies is the worst to hit the Gulf in decades.