Qatar

Doha / Information Office / June 22

HE Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that there can't be talk about complaints or accusations by the countries that imposed the siege on the State of Qatar until these countries explain the problem, adding that mass measures were taken against the State of Qatar by the three countries in coordination with Egypt to close off ports and the sole land border and then they issued statements without these measures being preceded by any communication or talks but, instead, the measures were preceded by media attacks based on the crime of hacking Qatar News Agency (QNA).

In a televised interview with France 24 on Thursday, HE the foreign minister said that before discussing demands, there must be a discussion first of the real reasons behind the punishment measures against the State of Qatar and the evidence on which these measures were based. He said that there are accusations being circulated in media and claims that Qatar knows the reasons behind the measures but added that none of these accusations are realistic.

"Until now we haven't received anything from them yet. We hope we receive something in the next couple of days," HE the foreign minister said, pointing to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's statement yesterday that he hopes the demands will be "reasonable and actionable."

He stressed that accusing the State of Qatar of sponsoring terrorism is baseless, untrue and unacceptable, noting that the State of Qatar is "active participant in the global coalition" against the ISIS group, adding that its role in this regard is well recognized across the region.

Asked whether the measures are a siege or boycotting, HE the foreign minister said it's a siege because the only land border crossing was shut and the airspace was closed off from three sides to the State of Qatar and only one side opened its airspace, which is Iran that, he added, the State of Qatar was accused of having special relations with.

What is happening is a siege and the measures taken against Qatar are illegal because the air was closed off against Qatar and Qatari vessels are being harassed in international waters, HE the foreign minister.

As for Qatar's ability to face the siege, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said the State of Qatar has the resources to take care of its people and guarantee them the best standard of living, adding that everything is normal in terms of the availability of daily foodstuffs.

However, he said questions are raised when it comes to the siege's effect on Qatari families such as Qataris married to Gulf citizens, noting that this harms Qatari citizens and their properties in those countries. HE the foreign minister stressed that questions must also be raised when those expressing sympathy with the State of Qatar are subjected to punishment, noting that separating husbands and wives and parents from children aren't measures of boycotting but rather unjust siege.

HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said the talk about Qatar's non-compliance with the 2014 agreement is completely wrong, adding that if there was a non-compliance indeed as some Gulf officials claim, there must be mechanisms to discuss it.

HE the foreign minister said the non-compliance of Riyadh agreement was evident in the hacking of QNA, which resulted in strong attack on the State of Qatar based on fabricated news stories as well as fabricating further news in order to incite hatred against the State of Qatar.

With regard to preparing a law suit on the case of hacking the website of Qatar News Agency (QNA) and the results of the investigations into it, HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that the investigation has reached advanced results and the file is currently in before the Attorney General of Qatar, who held, two days ago, a press conference explaining the circumstances of that incident. "We are now preparing a law suit in this regard.

Responding to a question about whether the problem is with Saudi Arabia or with the UAE, HE the Foreign Minister said that for Doha, the problem comes from the countries that have taken the punitive measures against the State of Qatar regardless of whether it is the UAE or Saudi Arabia. "Every body is claiming that we should know what the reasons and backgrounds of the decisions are. If we knew this, we would have started a constructive civilized debate with these parties. But so far, we have only heard general accusations and no one has made clear accusations against the State of Qatar neither of interfering in the internal affairs of their countries, of influencing the collective security of the GCC countries nor of being a factor to the instability in the region," he said.

"If there were clear accusations in this regard, it would have been better to put them on the table and to discuss them directly, that if the other parties were seeking a solution to this problem. But taking actions based on false news, shows us the shallow basis on which these procedures were built," he added.

On the congratulations of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Saudi Crown Prince, and whether it means that the Doha is extending hands to Riyadh, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani explained that the matter of transferring the Covenant in Saudi Arabia is an internal affair, adding that the congratulations are standard protocol of the State of Qatar, which deals with respect with all countries, whether they agree or disagree with them.

On mediations, HE the Foreign Minister stressed that there is one mediation carried by the State of Kuwait with the help of friendly and allied countries. Turkey is constantly urging Saudi Arabia and other countries to end the siege and to engage in constructive dialogue, he explained adding that the United States and the French President have an active and effective role in communicating with Qatar as well as with the other parties. He pointed that there have been five contacts between the HE French President and HH the Emir since the beginning of the crisis. "There have also been numerous contacts between me and the French Foreign Minister in addition to the visit I made last week to Paris," he added.

The Foreign Minister affirmed that the State of Qatar has not supported Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda or any terrorist organization, stressing that Qatar is operating in accordance with international laws and in accordance with frameworks approved by the international community. He noted that in Libya, the State of Qatar did its part openly and transparently under the UN Security Council resolution and under the joint leadership of NATO without supporting any party outside the international legitimacy. He added Qatar supported the government of national reconciliation, which resulted from a dialogue between the Libyan parties under the auspices of the United Nations.

HE pointed out that the reports issued by the UN Security Council show the countries that have violated the arms embargo in Libya and have never mentioned Qatar in any of these reports but rather praised Doha's constructive role in Libya. In Syria, Qatar acts with the international system and supports, with its allies, the moderate opposition and the Syrian people in gaining their right to decent living.

On supporting Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that Qatar does not support Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood, because it is a state and not a political party. He explained that Hamas has a political office in Doha, where the State of Qatar actively contributes to supporting Palestinian reconciliation and ending the split between Fatah and Hamas.

He explained that Qatar supports the Palestinian people directly in accordance with clear and transparent mechanisms, including the reconstruction projects of the Gaza Strip, which are accessible to all. Qatar also works on giving the people of the Gaza Strip hope for life, in order to spare them extremism or violence, he added.

He stressed that the State of Qatar has not supported the Muslim Brotherhood, but has supported governments whether the Muslim Brotherhood was part of those government or not. He pointed out that there is no Muslim Brotherhood party in Qatar neither there are members of it. Some of the governments in Arab countries, are led by the Muslim Brotherhood, he noted.

HE the Foreign Minister asked about the reason for accusing Doha of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, pointing that Qatar is still supporting Tunisia regardless of having Muslim Brotherhood in its government or not. He added that Qatar supported Egypt during the time of military council headed by Marshal Mohammed Tantawi and after the military coup during the presidency of Adly Mansour. He added that accusing Qatar of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood is a loose and unassertive accusation.

HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani pointed out that some of the GCC Countries consider the Muslim Brotherhood to be a terrorist movement, while the State of Qatar and some other countries within the Council consider it a political movement rather than a terrorist movement.