Russian FM visits Gulf states to mitigate Qatar crisis
By Ali Mustafayev
The months-long dispute between Qatar and some of its neighbors, assessed as the most serious dispute among them in years, continues to destabilize an already turbulent region.
The crisis erupted in early June when four Arab countries severed diplomatic and travel links, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism and regional foe Iran. Qatar denies the accusations.
While Kuwait is the mediator between the conflicting parties, many countries, including Russia voiced readiness to help solve the crisis.
Russia's foreign minister has started a three-nation tour of Gulf Arab states over the ongoing Qatar diplomatic crisis. Sergey Lavrov's visit to Kuwait City on August 28 marks the first high-level diplomatic visit by Russia over the crisis. Lavrov also will visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on his trip.
Lavrov, addressing a press conference following his meeting with Kuwait's Emir Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah on August 28, said that Russia is ready to cooperate in regulation of the Qatar crisis.
He also expressed hope that the issue would be solved peacefully and would not become an obstacle in the fight against terrorism.
“We have common positions with Kuwait in international affairs, I would even say that we have similar positions on the principal issues, which remain in the region. It’s about Syria, it’s about Libya and Yemen and situation around Qatar, which is being actively mediated by our Kuwaiti partners,” said Lavrov, RIA Novosti reported.
Previously, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced that they recognize only Kuwait as a mediator in the diplomatic crisis with Qatar.
Lavrov added that Russia is not going to compete with any country in regulation of the Gulf crisis, since it has good relations with all the countries involved in this difficult situation.
"In the most active way possible, we believe Kuwait's initiative deserves the support of everyone who could have a positive influence on this situation," he said. "We are ready to provide this support in ways that are acceptable to all the participants in this situation."
Apart from Kuwait, several other countries offered their services as mediators in the Qatar crisis. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took a trip to the Gulf countries, looking for a way to settle the crisis, and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made a number of trips to the region with the same goal.
The emirate still refuses to accept the 13 demands issued by the boycotting countries.
In protest, Doha filed a legal complaint at the World Trade Organization against a trade boycott by the “Arab Four,” formally requesting consultation with the three countries and demanding to resolve the situation in 60 days or to proceed with the case at the WTO.
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