We Agreed on Necessity to Stop Qatar's Funding of Terrorism, Extremism --Al-Jubeir Says, during Joint Press Conference with Visiting German Counterpart
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir affirmed that discussions held here today with visiting German Foreign Minister Sigmar H. Gabriel, were fruitful and constructive. During the press conference held following the meeting, the minister said that the talks covered bilateral relations between the two countries, which we consider to be special and strategic, stressing that Germany is one of the Kingdom's most important trading partners, in the world, a country that plays positive role in the affairs of the region, where it has many friends and we consider it to be among the most important countries in achieving the vision of 2030, in terms of technology and the potentials it contains. The meeting focused, Al-Jubeir added, on a number of issues and ways of consolidating the relationship between the two countries, in addition to regional issues starting with the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict, and how to reach a just and comprehensive solution to this dispute based on resolutions of the United Nations and the Arab Peace Initiative. Situation in Yemen and the latest developments regarding the situation with of Qatar, the minister pointed to agreement on the importance of stopping Qatari financing of terrorism and extremism and to stop spreading hatred and interference in the affairs of neighboring countries. Al-Jubeir expressed hope of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arab Republic of Egypt that the response of the brothers in Qatar to the requests of the four countries is positive, so that we can reach a solution to this crisis. "I assured the German Foreign Minister that the four countries are keen to build the best relations with our brothers in Qatar and that the aim of the measures that have been taken is to change the policies of Qatar which we consider to be detrimental to Qatar, the countries of the region and the world, Al-Jubeir stressed, adding that then we will take the appropriate attitude towards them." For his part, the German Foreign Minister Gabriel stressed on the support of the efforts of the State of Kuwait in the mediation of the Gulf to reach a solution that focuses on the good relations between the GCC countries to ensure the stability of the region in general from terrorism and financing, pointing out to the historical relations between Saudi Arabia and Germany and the mutual interests of the two countries. On the situation in Yemen, the unity of Iraq, the situation in Syria, the situation in the Gulf, the fight against terrorism and the extremists, he pointed to the successes made today, asserting that we must succeed in ending terrorism in the region and working to stabilize the security of the Gulf and the region. Asked about involvement of Qatar in harboring terrorists working from Qatar and spreading incitement and hatred, Al-Jubeir explained that this was not acceptable and we consider Qatar as a neighboring country and we share history and common denominators with it, and we ask them not to harbor terrorists. He pointed out that Germany has not changed its position on the issue of Qatar, indicating that the meeting of Arab and Gulf countries will be held on Qatar will take place next Wednesday and the four countries will examine the demands and take a position on the next step. The meeting was attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political and Economic Affairs Ambassador Dr. Adel Murdad and the Director General of the Office of the Foreign Minister Ambassador Khaled Al-Anqari, from the Saudi side and by the German Ambassador to the Kingdom Dieter Walter Haller and the German accompanying delegation.
