UAE confirms solution to Qatar crisis is based on diplomacy

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that there would be no military intervention against Qatar by the four countries boycotting it. "The Quartet confirmed since day one that the solution of the crisis will be diplomatic and its developments will be within sovereign rights," Dr Anwar Gargash said. "However, Qatar’s panic and weakness has created the illusion of a military intervention." Dr Gargash's comments followed a meeting between president Donald Trump and Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Sabah in Washington on Thursday. At a press conference after the meeting, the Kuwaiti emir said his country's mediation in the dispute had succeeded in stopping a military intervention. Mr Trump said he and the Kuwaiti emir could resolve the crisis and offered direct US mediation in the dispute "right here in the White House". Dr Gargash reaffirmed that the 13 requirements presented by the Quartet were the "foundations to resolving the crisis" and were based upon the "increased mistrust and doubt in Doha”. He expressed alarm that "Doha undermines Kuwait’s good will by hesitating and retracting", and added that "wisdom is needed to get Qatar out of its predicament". The minister also pointed out that Qatar had struggled “diplomatically and politically when dealing with the developments of this crisis". __________ Read more: Quartet say military action against Qatar will not happen Trump confident of resolving Qatar dispute after meeting Kuwaiti emir __________ Earlier on Friday, the Quartet — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt — issued a joint statement clarifying that military force against Qatar had never been on the table. The Quartet said it regretted the Kuwaiti emir's statement that its mediation had succeeded in preventing a military intervention. The Quartet "stresses that the military option was never — and never will be — an option in any way." In response, Kuwait's foreign ministry acknowledged the Quartet's efforts to end the dispute with Qatar while confirming its role as mediator. The ministry said Kuwait would continue its attempts to “heal the rift and end the dispute" and stressed that its mediation had helped to prevent an escalation in the crisis. Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to host Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim for talks next Friday, in what will be his first trip to a western capital since the dispute broke into the open. The talks are expected be dominated by the stand-off in the Arabian Gulf, although Ms Merkel's spokesman said he did not yet have details of the agenda.

UAE confirms solution to Qatar crisis is based on diplomacy

Dr Gargash says the 13 requirements are the "foundations to resolving the crisis" which are based upon the "increased mistrust and doubt in Doha”