Dammam, Paris, Berlin- German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Friday for negotiations to end the Qatari crisis away from public and media attention.
Her comments were made during a visit for Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Berlin where he announced Doha’s readiness for dialogue with the Arab states to reach a solution that pleases all parties.
Berlin is Sheikh Tamim’s second stop in his regional and European tour, which started by visiting Turkey on Thursday, Germany and France on Friday after which he will head to New York to attend the UN meetings, in his first foreign trip since the eruption of the crisis in June.
Merkel, addressing reporters during a press conference alongside Sheikh Tamim said she hoped dialogue could lead to “fair compromises.”
“It’s cause for great concern that after 100 days a solution to this conflict is still not in sight,” she said.
“And we spoke about the need for all the parties to sit at one table again as soon as possible.”
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates cut ties with Qatar in June over its close relations with Iran and its alleged support for extremists.
Germany has been supporting diplomatic efforts to try and defuse the crisis, with Merkel inviting all sides to sit at the table.
She said that she supported efforts by Kuwait and the US to mediate an end to the dispute.
“Germany is not a part of this conflict, but would like, in line with its values, to help get this conflict resolved in such a way that all can keep their face,” Merkel said.
The German Chancellor noted the Emir’s willingness to do everything in his power to resolve the Gulf crisis and confirmed Berlin’s communication with all parties involved.
“We cannot solve the problem in public, we must use diplomacy to reach fair results to end the conflict away from public and media attention,” Merkel stressed.
For his part, Sheikh Tamim said Qatar maintains its stance on dialogue to resolve the dispute with its neighboring Arab states.
“Qatar supports Kuwaiti mediation and will continue to support it until a solution to the crisis is reached,” the Emir said.
“We are fighting terrorism, but we must focus on the roots and causes of terrorism. We may disagree with some Arab countries on defining the roots of terrorism, but we agree on the need to fight it,” he added.
The comments, repeated on multiple occasions since the dispute in June, came during “excellent and frank” talks with Merkel, in which the two leaders discussed the months-old Arab blockade on Qatar.
Following the meetings with Merkel, the emir went to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. He left the Elysee palace without speaking to the press.