Defense minister describes Qatar's isolation as war without blood
By Kamila Aliyeva
The blockade of Qatar and subsequent demands of Saudi Arabia and its major allies have only aggravated the already difficult situation in the Persian Gulf while hindering the peaceful settlement of regional crisis through negotiations.
Qatar's Defense Minister Khalid al-Attiyah is expected to hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Fikri Isik in Ankara on June 30 as the Gulf nation's dispute with four other Arab states deepens amid a list of harsh demands to Doha, including the closure of a Turkish military base there.
The isolation of Qatar by a number of Arab countries means the declaration of war without blood, Khalid al-Attiyah before the visit, Turkish el-Arabi el-Cedid newspaper reported on June 30.
The Arab nations, which severed political relations with Doha, deliberately conduct anti-Qatar propaganda, accusing it of supporting terrorism, according to the minister.
Meanwhile, Qatar's Defense Ministry has announced the arrival of a new group of Turkish armed forces to the military base, where Turkey began its training mission last week.
The forces will take part in joint exercises within the framework of a defense agreement signed between Doha and Ankara aimed at raising Qatar's defense capabilities, supporting counter-terror efforts, as well as maintaining security and stability in the region.
Ankara is set to keep its military base, the first one for Turkey in the Arab World, in the small Gulf state and has sided with Qatar in the dispute from its very beginning.
Previously, Isik stated that Turkey’s military base in Qatar is exclusively an internal issue of Ankara and Doha, saying that no country has the right to interfere in the affairs of other countries.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, along with Egypt, cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar in early June, accusing the country of supporting "extremism" and their regional ally, Iran - charges that Qatar has repeatedly denied.
Arab countries demanded from Qatar to comply with 13 points in return for an end to a three-week-old diplomatic and trade boycott of the country.
They required Qatar to cut diplomatic relations with Iran, close the Turkish military base, eliminate Al-Jazeera TV channel, extradite all persons wanted in four countries on charges of terrorism and pay compensation.
However, Qatar has dismissed these demands calling them humiliating and unacceptable.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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