Qatar says 'optimistic' about resolving Gulf crisis

DOHA (AA) – Qatar is open to dialogue to resolve the Gulf crisis, Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said in an interview on Tuesday.

"We will remain optimistic," bin Abdulrahman told CNN. "Some channels of dialogue have been opened in the last two months between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but unfortunately this did not lead to anything.

"We want to look forward to a more prosperous and stable future in the region and this cannot happen with an approach that produces nothing," he said.

The top diplomat explained that a stable future "can only happen when a compromise is reached between all countries and a settlement is reached for all of us to achieve gains".

"We have never intended to undermine or humiliate any country, we want them to get out of this stronger and we must all go out as a stronger region," he said.

In mid-2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt all abruptly severed ties with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups, an accusation vehemently denied by Qatar.

There are no signs of resolving the crisis until today despite mediation attempts and reciprocal statements from Saudi and Qatari officials.

*Bassel Ibrahim contributed to this report from Ankara