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Military Solution to Doha Diplomatic Row Excluded - Qatari Defense Minister

Sputnik News

21:40 01.08.2017

Qatari Minister of State for Defense Khalid bin Mohammad Attiyah said that the crisis between Qatar and some Arab states should be resolved only through dialogue.

CAIRO (Sputnik) – There are serious divisions between Qatar and some Arab states, but the military solution to the situation will not be considered, Qatari Minister of State for Defense Khalid bin Mohammad Attiyah said Tuesday.

"There are no doubts that political disputes [between Qatar and a number of Arab countries] are deep. As the [Qatari] emir said, these disputes should be resolved only through dialogue. As regards military solution, it is excluded for many reasons," Attiyah said, as quoted by the Al Jazeera broadcaster.

In early June, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and meddling in their internal affairs. Kuwait, acting as a mediator in the crisis, handed over to Doha an ultimatum containing 13 demands on behalf of the four states. The list included requests to sever Qatar's relations with Iran, close Turkey's military base in Qatar and shut down Al Jazeera, as well as to end support for the Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist organization banned in Russia.

Qatar has refuted all accusations and refused to comply with the demands.

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