Qatar hails Russia's stance on settling Persian Gulf crisis

DOHA, August 30. /TASS/. Qatar welcomes Russia’s position on the soonest settlement of the Persian Gulf crisis, the country’s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told reporters after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

"We believe it is necessary to preserve unity in the Gulf Cooperation Council," Al Thani said. "We welcome the position of Russia in favor of the soonest settlement of the crisis between the Persian Gulf countries and thank the Russian president for this stance."

The minister also called to back the efforts of Kuwait’s Emir in this issue. Besides, he noted that Doha values Moscow’s position on the inter-Palestinian reconciliation and uniting Palestinian political forces. He also spoke about peace efforts in the Middle East. "We back the Arab peace initiative, it should be a basis for a peace plan of settlement between Palestine and Israel."

Qatar’s foreign minister also welcomed Moscow’s efforts on settlement in Libya. "Russia is holding dialogue with all parties to the Libyan crisis," he said. "We hope this will contribute to reinstating stability in Libya."

The crisis

Diplomatic crisis surrounding Qatar should be resolved by efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Russian top diplomat pointed out. 

"We are convinced that it is advisable to solve this issue as part of the Gulf Cooperation Council," Lavrov said after his talks in Qatar.

Russia also knows that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had offered his assistance, Lavrov said.

"We will welcome this if his proposals achieve a goal and efforts are successful. But we have not put forward any ideas ourselves which differ from those of Kuwait and the US, and believe this is not necessary."

According to Lavrov, there are enough proposals based on which dialogue may be already launched. "We will continue our line in contacts with all regional states," Russia’s top diplomat said.

The Gulf Cooperation Council brings together Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Cooperation in energy sector 

Russia and Qatar are interested in coordinating their efforts in energy sector and oil production, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed. 

We have reaffirmed our mutual interest in continuing our coordination in the energy sector, in oil production and as part of the forum of gas exporters," he noted.

"There is a growing interest in mutual increase of investments between the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Qatar Investment Agency," the Russian diplomat said.

"We have an intention to intensively develop trade and economic ties. But so far the level of trade turnover does not meet the existing potential of the two countries, and therefore we find it very important to intensify the work in the joint Russian-Qatari commission on trade, economic and technical cooperation, which held a meeting in Doha in April. Also a business forum of our entrepreneurs was held on the sidelines of that event."

"Recently, we have renewed the line-up of the Russian-Qatar business council, which should help improve trade and economic cooperation," the minister added.