Prolonging Qatar blockade 'not in anyone's interest', Turkey says as EU, UK urge direct talks to end Gulf crisis
23 July 2017News Agencies
Prolonging the crisis in the Gulf sparked by the isolation of Qatar is not in
the interest of anyone, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday,
as he embarked on a visit to the region.
"No-one has any interest in prolonging this crisis any more," Erdogan said
before leaving Istanbul airport.
He accused "enemies" of seeking to "fire up tensions between brothers".
Erdogan, whose country has come to Qatar's aid in the crisis, first had talks
in Jeddah with King Salman who hailed the Turkish leader's "efforts in the
fight against terrorism and its financing," Saudi state news agency SPA
reported.
Erdogan is scheduled to fly to Kuwait next before heading to Qatar on Monday
for his first face-to-face talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani
since the crisis began.
Erdogan praised Qatar's behaviour in the crisis, saying Doha had sought to
find a solution through dialogue. "I hope our visit will be beneficial for the
region," he said.
On 5 June, Saudi Arabia and allied states - Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and
Egypt - cut all ties with Qatar, closing its only land border, banning planes
from their airspace and barring Qatari nationals from passing through their
airports.
They accused Qatar of supporting and funding "terrorism" and working with
regional rival Iran - charges Doha vehemently denies.
Ankara has strongly backed Qatar throughout the standoff.
But the crisis with Qatar has put Turkey in a delicate position and Erdogan
has repeatedly said he wants to see the end of the dispute as soon as
possible.
Over the last years, Qatar has emerged as Turkey's number one ally in the
Middle East, with Ankara and Doha closely coordinating their positions on a
number of issues including the Syria conflict, where both are staunch foes of
President Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey is also in the throes of setting up a military base in Qatar - its only
such outpost in the region. It has sped up the process since the crisis began
and now reportedly has 150 troops stationed at the base.
Erdogan is likely to get a warm welcome in Doha where Turkey has been loudly
applauded for sending in food, including fruit, dairy and poultry products by
ship and by plane to help Doha beat an embargo.
Turkey has also benefited, with its exports to Qatar doubling in the past
month to more than $50 million. According to the economy ministry, Ankara has
sent around 200 cargo planes filled with aid since the crisis began.
"From the first moments of the Qatar crisis, we have been on the side of
peace, stability, solidarity and dialogue," said Erdogan.
But Turkey, which is also going through a turbulent time with the European
Union and the United States, also does not want to wreck its own relations
with regional kingpin Saudi Arabia.
"As the elder statesman in the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia has a big role to
play in solving the crisis," said Erdogan, without explicitly criticising the
kingdom.
Erdogan said he supported the mediation efforts of Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah
al-Ahmad al-Sabah, a possible indication Ankara sees Kuwait as the key to
solving the crisis.
On Friday, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said he was ready for
talks to resolve the crisis so long as the emirate's sovereignty is respected.
Erdogan is also expected to discuss regional issues including rising tensions
in Palestine at al-Aqsa mosque.
EU, UK urge direct talks to end Gulf crisis
EU's Mogherini urges direct talks to end Gulf crisis
European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini has called for swift
direct talks to resolve the Gulf crisis between Qatar and its neighbour
states.
Mogherini's remarks came in a statement issued on Sunday after she met with
Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al Sabah and expressed EU support for his
"relentless mediation efforts" in the dispute.
She called on "all the parties to enter into negotiations to agree clear
principles and a roadmap for a swift resolution of the crisis".
The statement said the EU was ready to support the process of negotiations and
assist in the implementation of a plan for the resolution of the crisis, in
particular in the area of counterterrorism.
Sheikh Sabah has been mediating to resolve the crisis after Saudi Arabia, the
United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of
supporting extremist groups. Doha strongly denied the allegation.
The quartet imposed a land, sea and air blockade on Qatar and issued a list of
13 demands.
The move has been condemned by various international rights groups, the United
Nations and multiple governments. Qatar has rejected the demands.
On Friday, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said in a televised
address that his country was ready for dialogue to resolve the row, but
stressed that any solution to the crisis must respect his country's
sovereignty.
UK welcomes Qatar's call for Gulf crisis talks
Britain's government has praised Qatari emir's willingness for dialogue to
resolve the ongoing diplomatic dispute with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and
Egypt.
"I welcome the Emir of Qatar's commitment to combat terrorism in all its
manifestations, including terrorist financing," Britain’s Foreign Secretary
Boris Johnson said in a statemen on Sunday.
“The Emir also pledged to resolve the remaining differences with Saudi Arabia,
UAE, Egypt and Bahrain through dialogue, negotiation, and Kuwaiti mediation.
These steps will help to resolve the dispute,” Johnson added.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said in a televised address on
Friday that his country is ready for dialogue to resolve the diplomatic row
with the Saudi-led group, but stressed that any solution to the crisis must
respect his country's sovereignty.
Johnson said Britain hopes that "in turn Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain
respond by taking steps towards lifting the embargo," and that "this will
allow substantive discussions on remaining differences to begin."
"The UK will continue to engage our partners in the region to help them reach
a solution, including assisting Kuwait's important efforts in whatever way we
can," Johnson added.
British Prime Minister Theresa May had previously urged the leaders of Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates to take steps to reduce tensions
in the region
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Qatar last
month, and imposed a sea and land blockade while accusing Doha of supporting
terrorism. Doha denies the accusation of terrorism and contends the blockade
is a violation of international law.
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