Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Thani said Monday the editorial policy of Al Jazeera television channel and relations between Doha and regional countries, including Iran, were the country’s internal affairs and not subject to negotiations.
On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt broke off diplomatic relations with Doha and stopped all communication with Qatar over its alleged support for terrorism and its cordial relations with Iran.
“They have the right to claim that Qatar is interfering in their affairs. They have the right to claim that Qatar is a destabilizing factor... But no one has the right to interfere in our affairs. Al Jazeera is a Qatari affair. Qatar’s foreign policy on regional issues is a Qatari affair. And we are not going to negotiate on our own affairs,” the minister stressed, answering a question on whether the emirate was ready to close Al Jazeera satellite TV station, distance itself from Iran and end funding for certain groups, Sputnik reported.
Doha-based Al-Jazeera was blocked in the UAE and its offices were closed in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia demanded that Qatar change the policy of Al-Jazeera so it does not contradict the interests of the Arab world.
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