Doha: The unjust blockade imposed on Qatar by siege countries is an obstacle for regional cooperation, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

“This dispute between us and some of the GCC countries plus Egypt which is blockading states, is considered an obstacle for regional cooperation and for regional engagement but we hope that also the blockading states do not politicise all means of cooperation with other states because of this conflict,” said H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the 16th Asian Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). He said Qatar is open to dialogue to resolve the Gulf crisis.

“Qatar remains with its position that we are very much open to dialogue and engagement when it comes to an engagement with good faith because Qatar is going to enter any process and any talks only with good faith and with good intentions of the other countries,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. “Unfortunately we still see the same behaviour of the blockading states of stubbornness and denial. We hope that one day they will go back to the wisdom and they will come to the table and they address their grievances.”

Replying to a question on US sanctions on Iran, the Deputy Prime Minister said that Qatar does not believe that unilateral sanctions bring positive effects for crises which must be solved through dialogues. Qatar got support from other countries on the issue of the blockade.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country hopes the GCC countries will be able to resolve their differences. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the meeting, the Iranian Foreign Minister said, “We hope that GCC countries could resolve their differences. We were against the pressure against Qatar. We believe that the pressure against Qatar is against International Law.”

“We are proud of the people of Qatar who were able to continue by resisting and improving their status. The only way is for everybody is to come back together to the negotiating table,” he said.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait, Khaled Al Jarallah, stressed that his country’s efforts would continue to contain the long-standing Gulf crisis, hoping that it would not last longer than it is now.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines the meeting, Al Jarallah stressed that his country through the efforts of the Amir of Kuwait, H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, and his determination to contain this crisis, will be able to restore the cohesion of this Gulf structure. He pointed out that this meeting is witnessing great participation from the GCC countries, “a positive sign that we are moving in the right direction”.