Qatar Foreign Minister, Russian counterpart discuss bilateral ties

31/08/2017 07:58 AST

HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met yesterday with Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, currently visiting the country. During the meeting, the ministers discussed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways of strengthening and developing them, mainly in the field of investment and trade.

HE the Foreign Minister briefed his Russian counterpart on the developments in the current Gulf crisis and all illegal measures taken against the State of Qatar.

HE the Foreign Minister reiterated Qatar’s readiness for dialogue with the siege countries, noting that the State of Qatar has presented an official request to the State of Kuwait, expressing its readiness for dialogue but it has not yet been answered by the siege countries. HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani underlined that the State of Qatar welcomes the Russian position, and all efforts from friendly countries that support the Kuwaiti mediation process and a diplomatic solution to the crisis unconditionally.

Talks during the meeting also dealt with the situation in Libya, Iraq, Syria and Palestine. HE the Foreign Minister affirmed Qatar’s support for all efforts aiming at restoring stability to the region.

For his part, Lavrov stressed Russia’s commitment to cooperate with the State of Qatar in all fields.

Regarding the Gulf crisis, he stressed Russia’s keenness on a unified and strong Gulf Cooperation Council, noting that there is no need for new problems in the region. The Russian minister also stressed Moscow’s support for the Kuwaiti mediation. “We are convinced that there’s a need to seek a solution by searching for mutually beneficial approaches through dialogue,” said the Russian foreign minister.

“It’s in our interests for the GCC to be united and strong,” he said, referring to the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.

The two sides also vowed to increase trade ties at a time when Qatar is facing an unjust economic boycott from some neighbouring states.

“We are committed to bolstering trade and economic ties,” Lavrov told reporters afterwards. He added that Moscow “attached great importance” to economic cooperation, including energy, between the two countries, a sentiment echoed by HE Sheikh Mohammed.

Russia and Qatar are two of the world’s top four gas producing countries. Both are also major oil producers, and last year Qatar spent billions on taking a stake in Russia’s state-controlled oil company, Rosneft.

Gulf Times