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Malaysia Ready to Help Address Qatar Crisis | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Hishammuddin Hussein says Malaysia ready to help solve the Qatar crisis if required. — Reuters


London- Malaysia has expressed readiness to mediate in the Qatari crisis if requested.

Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in the parliament on Thursday that the opportunity should be given first to Kuwait as an intermediary in addressing the crisis, noting that the Malaysian government supports the Kuwaiti mediation efforts.

“We closely monitor and, if necessary, our existing ties with the Gulf nations concerned can help and place Malaysia in a position that is not only strategic but can play a more in-depth role,” Hussein added.

Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid Al-Khalifa said that the states boycotting Qatar – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and UAE – will stick to their demands, and he warned Doha of escalating.

Speaking during an interview with Egyptian channel DMC, Sheikh Khalid said that he doesn’t know what the emir of Qatar is in pursuit of but he won’t succeed – he saw that Doha has played a negative role in the Yemeni file and the Iranian arms sent to Houthis represent a direct threat to Arab states.

Bahraini foreign minister added that the world has adopted an approach to fight terrorism and tolerance with Qatar is no longer an option – “If we don’t face Qatar, then we won’t be abiding by our commitments toward the region and world in fighting terrorism,” he stated.

The GCC will continue and flourish despite the crisis with Qatar, Sheikh Khalid affirmed.

Further, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani declared that Washington wishes to end the Gulf crisis, highlighting the Kuwaiti mediation to resolve the crisis.