“We clearly disapprove of the sanctions on Qatar” Turkish President Erdogan said
As the world reacts over the recent move four Arab states dramatically announced that they were cutting transport links with Qatar, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wants to resolve the lowering Qatar tension dispute through diplomacy and mutual dialogues.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has spoken by phone with the leaders of Qatar, Russia, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on lowering tension after Arab powers cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants.
Tayyip Erdogan while having a fast-breaking iftar dinner at capital Ankara issued a statement said that “I want to clearly say that we disapprove of the sanctions on Qatar,” he said adding “these developments, coming at a time when we need solidarity and cooperation more than ever, are no good for any country in the region.”
“The importance of regional peace and stability was underlined in the talks, as well as the importance of focusing on the path of diplomacy and dialogue to lower the current tension,” he added.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed their ties with Qatar on Monday, opening up the worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world.
Turkey has good relations with Qatar as well as several of its Gulf Arab neighbors and Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told after a cabinet meeting on Monday that Ankara wanted to help resolve the dispute.
According to presidential sources, Erdoğan held phone conversations with Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Jordanian King Abdullah II, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to provide atmosphere in defusing the tensions.
President Erdoğan had previously also spoken with Russian, Qatari, Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti leaders regarding the issue, the sources added.
Turkey has repeatedly called for dialogue after several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and one of the three governments in Libya cut their diplomatic relations with Qatar.