Arab-Qatari dispute is complicated: Algerian FM

CAIRO – 14 August 2017: The dispute between Qatar and Arab countries is “complicated” according to the Algerian Foreign Minister, Abdelkader Messahel, statements to media on Monday.

Talking about the results of the his tour that included eight Arab countries including Egypt, Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Messahel confirmed that the Algerian stance regarding the Qatari-Gulf dispute has been ”known and fixed” since the begging. “We don’t interfere in the countries’ affairs, and in return we don’t accept any interference in our affairs,” he said.

Messahel added that his government supports all the political initiatives regarding solving the dispute, especially Kuwait’s, however “Algeria doesn’t have a political initiative on its own,” he added.

“We share the same distance with all the countries, our relation with Saudi Arabia is the same with Iran, and even the rest of the Gulf countries,” Messahel added.

On August 2, Messahel held a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, in Cairo following their talks. He affirmed that his country is following and supporting the agreed solution by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), backed by Kuwaiti mediation regarding the Qatari despite.

“I’ve been on a tour during the past days, to follow and discuss with the Arab countries’ leaders the latest updates regarding all of the relevant issues,” Messahel said, adding that he believes this tour was a successful one.

Messahel also said that he delivered a message from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fatah al- Sisi, related to the relations between the two countries.

“We are always looking for further collaboration and coordination with Egypt, regarding economic and political relations,” Messahel said.

As far as he is concerned, Shoukry said that Egypt and Algeria’s perspectives are very similar regarding many cases, including the Libyan case. “Algeria’s political principle to not interfere in other countries’ affairs is completely consistent with the Egyptian policy. That’s why we are looking to enhance our relations further.”