Germany doesn’t differ with our stance against Qatar: FM

CAIRO - 14 June 2017: Germany’s perspective does not differ from Egypt’s regarding some Arab states’ decision to sever diplomatic ties with Qatar last week, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in a Tuesday statement.

The German government wants to listen to all perspectives and understand the true reasons behind the Egyptian and Arab situation against Qatar, he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel in Berlin.

According to a statement released by the presidency, Sisi and Gabriel discussed the threat of terrorism and agreed that its confrontation should not be limited to military or security means only, but firm steps must also be taken against the countries that back terrorism and offer financial and political cover.

Sisi and Gabriel discussed several regional issues of common concern, including Libya and the strained relations between the Arab Gulf states and Qatar.

Per German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s invitation, President Sisi participated Monday in the summit organized by the German presidency of the G20 for the partnership with Africa, under the title "G20 Africa Partnership - Investing in a Common Future."

Relations between Qatar and a number of Arab and Gulf states have been strained since May 24, when the Qatari state-run news agency reported statements of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Al Thani regarding Gulf foreign policy with Iran, describing it as “unwise.” He also added that the American military base in Qatar is “the only protection guarantee” to Doha against “foreign ambitions.”

Shortly later, on Monday June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Libya and Yemen decided to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar for its “continuous support for terrorism,” closing their airspace and seaports to Qatari transportation.