Doha: Russia is ready to play role of mediator in Qatar dispute, if it is asked, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has said. His call came in the wake of a futile attempt by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who visited Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar in a bid to solve the issue.
Erdogan arrived in Doha on Monday as part of a Gulf tour aimed at defusing the dispute between Qatar and neighbouring Arab states.
Erdogan was greeted by Qatari ruler Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha ahead of their first face-to-face talks on the Gulf crisis, state news agency QNA reported.
On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain suspended diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar over Doha’s support for terrorism and close ties with regional rival Iran.
Erdogan held talks on Sunday in Kuwait, which is leading mediation efforts in the crisis, and Saudi Arabia, where King Salman hailed the Turkish leader’s “efforts in the fight against terrorism and its financing”.
Erdogan has voiced support for the mediation efforts of Kuwait, a possible indication Ankara sees Kuwait as the key to resolving the crisis.
Qatar’s emir on Friday said he was open to talks.
His call received a cold reception from the UAE’s state minister for foreign affairs, Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, who wanted Qatar to review its policies.
“Dialogue is necessary, but it should be based on a revision” of Qatar’s stance, he tweeted.
Turkey is also setting up a military base in Qatar, its only such outpost in the region. It has expedited the process since the crisis began and reportedly now has 150 troops in the emirate.
