EU offers all help to end Gulf crisis
kuwait city — EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini on Sunday called for swift direct talks to resolve the Gulf crisis between Qatar and its neighbours.
Mogherini’s call came after she met the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, and expressed EU support for Kuwait’s mediation efforts.
Mogherini called on “all the parties to enter into negotiations to agree clear principles and a roadmap for a swift resolution of the crisis”. She said the EU was ready to support the process of negotiations and assist in the implementation of a plan, in particular in the area of counterterrorism. —
jeddah — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday began a key visit to the Gulf region aimed at defusing the standoff around Qatar, saying no one had an interest in prolonging the crisis.
Erdogan had talks in Jeddah Sunday with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, who hailed the Turkish leader’s “efforts in the fight against terrorism and its financing,” Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Erdogan was scheduled to fly to Kuwait later on Sunday before heading to Qatar on Monday for his first face-to-face talks with Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani since the crisis began.
“No one has any interest in prolonging this crisis any more,” Erdogan said in Istanbul before leaving on the two-day trip.
He accused “enemies” of seeking to “fire up tensions between brothers” in the region.
On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of backing extremism and fostering ties with Iran.
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.
“From the first moments of the Qatar crisis, we have been on the side of peace, stability, solidarity and dialogue,” said Erdogan.
As well as meeting King Salman, Erdogan was also to hold talks with Mohammed bin Salman for the first time since he was elevated to the role of crown prince and his father’s heir in a dramatic June reshuffle of the royal house.
“As the elder statesman in the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia has a big role to play in solving the crisis,” said Erdogan, taking care not to explicitly criticise the kingdom.
Erdogan said he supported the mediation efforts of Kuwait’s Amir His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, a possible indication Ankara sees Kuwait as the key to solving the crisis.
The Qatari Amir said on Friday he was ready for talks to resolve the row as long as the emirate’s sovereignty is respected. Erdogan’s tour coincides with a visit to Kuwait by the European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, who held talks with Kuwaiti officials.
A statement said Mogherini paid tribute to Kuwait’s “relentless mediation efforts” in the dispute and called for a resolution “through dialogue and without delay.” — AFP