Qatar calls to resolve Gulf rift with 'dignity'

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Qatar's emir called for a negotiated settlement to a damaging dispute with other Gulf states on Thursday, but insisted any solution should not come at the expense of "our sovereignty and dignity."

"Qatar's sovereignty is above all considerations. We want to resolve the rift but not at the expense of our sovereignty and dignity," Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said at a joint press conference with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron.

"If the brothers want to resolve the dispute, we are ready," Sheikh Tamim said. "Any solution should be founded on a clear basis acceptable by all and the non-interference in the sovereignty of others."

Qatar on Thursday also signed a deal with France to buy 12 French Rafale fighter jets, according to local media reported.

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a news conference in Doha, Qatar, December 7, 2017. /Reuters Photo

It was also announced that the two sides were negotiating the purchase of 300 VBCI armored vehicles from French firm Nexter and a contract worth some 3 billion euros (3.54 billion US dollars) over the management of the Doha metro for 20 years.

The total value of the deals was 12 billion euros (14.14 billion US dollars).

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed all diplomatic and economic ties with gas-rich Qatar, accusing it of links to extremist groups and being too close to Shiite Iran, Riyadh's arch-rival.

The four countries also cut off all air and sea links to Qatar and closed the only land terminal for the tiny peninsula. Qatar has denied the allegations and repeatedly called for a negotiated settlement.

The four nations have demanded that Doha accepts a list of 13 conditions to open a dialogue. Mediation efforts to resolve the rift, mainly led by the emir of fellow Gulf state Kuwait, have so far failed to break the deadlock.

Source(s): AFP ,Xinhua News Agency