Turkish products hit Qatar shelves as blockade remains

By Turgut Alp Boyraz

DOHA (AA) – Turkish products are meeting high demand in stores across Qatar, which is facing an economic blockade from fellow Arab countries.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.

Saudi Arabia has also closed its land borders with Qatar, geographically isolating the tiny Gulf state.

Qatar, for its part, has strenuously denied accusations that it is a supporter of terrorism, describing the moves to diplomatically isolate it as “unjustified”.

Amid the diplomatic row engulfing the Gulf state, Turkey stood by Qatar as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that "We will not abandon our Qatari brothers."

Turkish president also called on Riyadh to remove all sanctions on Doha and open diplomatic talks.

Ankara further moved to send stockpiles of food and water supplies aboard cargo planes to the tiny Gulf country.

Qatari market chains announced on social media that daily food products from Turkey such as milk, yogurt, and chicken were now on the shelves with signs "from Turkey by air."

"Everything is going fine in Qatar," Suhail Awad, a Qatari shopper in Doha, told Anadolu Agency.

"We are now buying Turkish products," he said. "For the first time, my son will drink milk coming from Turkey."

Awad went on to praise Turkish support for Qatar in light of the Arab blockade.

"This is how real relations should be. I hope Arab states will develop their relations the same way like this," he said.

In earlier interviews with Anadolu Agency, Qataris appeared upbeat despite their country's ongoing diplomatic crisis with its neighbors.

Many, however, also voiced anger over moves by fellow Arab countries to cut diplomatic relations -- and food supplies -- during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.