Germany calls for diplomacy to resolve regional crisis
wolfenbuettel (Germany) — German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Friday called for increased diplomatic efforts to resolve the Qatar crisis, and said neighbouring states should lift a land, sea and air blockade imposed on the small Gulf state this week.
“We are convinced that now is the hour of diplomacy and we must talk to each other,” Sigmar Gabriel told reporters after a meeting with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Wolfen-buettel, Germany.
“Along with our American colleagues but above all our colleagues in the region, we must try to find solutions, especially lifting the sea and air blockades,” he said.
The Qatari foreign minister said the blockade of Qatar broke international law and described the severing of land, air and sea links to his country as “collective punishment”.
“These procedures that were taken (are) clear violations of international law and international humanitarian law. They will not have a positive impact on the region but a negative one,” he told reporters.
The Qatari foreign minister said that the terror list included journalists and other individuals who had no relationship to Qatar, including some who had never visited the country.
“What is the crime that Qatar committed to deserve this collective punishment that violates all international laws?” he said. —