The continuation of the same methodology and policies of the blockading countries does not promise a solution to the ongoing Gulf crisis, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani has said.
“Qatar is ready for dialogue if the blockading countries are ready to enter into a positive rational and constructive dialogue. The continuation of their policies is not indicative of any solution,” Sheikh Mohammed said at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in Doha on Monday.
He said no new moves or initiatives have been made on the Gulf crisis except those exerted by the Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah al Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah as part of the efforts to hold a dialogue and the efforts of the United States seeking to end the crisis.
“There are no practical steps or any changes that show that there has been a change in the approach and behaviour of the blockading countries since the crisis began. The speeches and the methods followed by them are still the same,” he said.
Talking about Qatar’s plan to conclude a military deal with Russia to buy the Russian missile defence system (S400) and the opposition of some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, against the deal, the FM said such issues are sovereign decision of Qatar. Saudi Arabia or any other country are not concerned with such issues.
He said discussions are going on with Russia for acquiring different military equipment and there is no agreement currently on the defence systems (S400).
He said a technical committee is studying the options available that can benefit both the parties from any agreement reached. He said Qatari technical team examines the military equipment the country can buy from Russia.
On the level of cooperation with Russia, Sheikh Mohammed said he had held constructive discussions with the Russian minister on all regional and international issues. The two countries shared a common vision for resolving crises through peaceful means and dialogue, he pointed out.
He said both the countries are willing to strengthen their relations.
He said the talks with the Russian side dealt with the exchange of views on the developments achieved, whether in the political solution or on the ground with regard to the Syrian crisis, where it was stressed the position of Qatar supporting that the political solution agreed upon by the Syrian people is the only solution to end the Syrian crisis.
Sheikh Mohammed said the discussions also touched on Libya and the necessity of establishing security and that there should be one government and one army, pointing out that the Qatari and Russian sides agreed to support Skhirat agreement and its outputs and Qatar’s support to the Government of National Accord resulting from this agreement.
He said the two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian issue and the peace process, and joint efforts to end the division between Palestinians, stressing the importance of ending this division and seeking reconciliation among all the Palestinian parties.
In response to a question on Qatar’s reservations about Syria’s return to the Arab League, he said the reasons behind the suspension of Syria’s membership in the Arab League still exist, and there was nothing new to change this decision.
“We are committed to a political solution in Syria accepted by the Syrian people so that Syria’s seat will be for a political leadership representing the Syrian people,” he added.
Concerning the talks between Taliban and the US in Doha, he said, “We have to be optimistic about these talks because of our desire to achieve peace in Afghanistan. Peace will not come by force, but by dialogue and understanding.”
For his part, the Russian Foreign Minister said his meeting with Sheikh Mohammed discussed the situation in Syria and Libya, where both sides stressed the need to calm the situation according to international resolutions and laws.
“We also discussed the Palestinian issue and the peace process, where we agreed on the need to resolve it as per international consensus, as well as our discussion of the Gulf crisis and the need for calm, taking the Russian initiative on common security in the region,” he said.
Lavrov hailed the depth of relations between Qatar and his country, stressing the importance of the relationship between the Qatar Investment Authority and the Russian Fund for Investment in the oil and gas sector, stressing the keenness of the Russian private sector to invest in this field, given Qatar’s readiness to host the World Cup 2022, and the role of Russian expertise in organizing such massive sports events and their willingness to participate in these events.
On Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Qatar, Lavrov said Putin has responded to the invitation to visit Qatar within the framework of a Gulf tour, noting that the timing of the visit will be determined later.
On the cooperation between the two sides in the technical and military field, the Russian FM said that an agreement had been signed between the two sides for nearly a year and a half, stressing the parties’ adherence to this agreement, and “in the event of Qatar to apply for a defense system, the matter will be studied in accordance with this agreement”.
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