Source: Yahoo News
Doha (AFP) - Qatar defended its
independent foreign policy Monday after Saudi Arabia and two other Gulf
countries recalled their envoys from Doha accusing it of meddling in
their internal affairs.
"Our
policy is based on openness towards all, and we do not want to exclude
anyone," Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiya said during a visit to Paris,
in remarks aired by Doha-based Al-Jazeera television.
Saudi Arabia and other conservative Gulf countries welcomed the military's overthrow of Morsi last July and pledged billions of dollars in aid while Qatar, which had strongly supported him, has seen its influence in Cairo evaporate.
Doha said it "regretted" the decision to recall the envoys, which it said was based on differences concerning regional issues.
Saudi
Arabia and other Gulf monarchies have long been hostile towards Egypt's
Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates across the region, fearing that
its brand of grass-roots activism and political Islam could undermine
their authority.
The
Brotherhood is widely banned in the Gulf, and the UAE has sentenced
scores of alleged members to jail, while Qatar has served as a refuge
for Brotherhood sympathisers from other countries.
Attiya
said Qatar "provides a forum for all those who do not belong to any
bloc to come and exchange their views," but said this does not mean that
Doha agrees with them.
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