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Qatar files complaint to WTO against trade boycotting Arab countries

01 August 2017 [16:50] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews


By Ali Mustafayev  

Qatar has filed a legal complaint at the World Trade Organization against a trade boycott by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates, Qatar's WTO office head Ali Alwaleed al-Thani told Reuters.

Doha formally “requested consultation” with the three countries, demanding to resolve the situation in 60 days or to proceed with the case at the WTO.

"We've given sufficient time to hear the legal explanations on how these measures are in compliance with their commitments, to no satisfactory result," al-Thani said.

"We have always called for dialogue, for negotiations, and this is part of our strategy to talk to the members concerned and to gain more information on these measures, the legality of these measures, and to find a solution to resolve the dispute."

Doha’s complaint is addressed to three countries Saudi, Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, excepting Egypt which is also a member of coalition against Qatar, which is accused of allowing terror financiers to operate within the country.

The boycotting countries have previously told the WTO that they would cite national security to justify their actions against Qatar, using a controversial and almost unprecedented exemption allowed under the WTO rules.

Previously in the light of the conflict, Saudi Arabia blamed Qatar for its demand to internationalize the Muslim hajj pilgrimage.

"Qatar's demands to internationalize the holy sites is aggressive and a declaration of war against the kingdom," Adel al-Jubeir was quoted saying on Al Arabiya's website.

Doha, in its turn, refused this accusation, stating that there was no official report from any of Qatari structures about internationalizing of holy sites.

"We are tired of responding to false information and stories invented from nothing," Qatari FM Sheikh Mohammed told Al Jazeera TV.

The crisis around Qatar erupted in June when the four countries severed diplomatic and travel links, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism and regional foe Iran. Qatar denies the accusations.

Earlier, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in Qatar has hired a Swiss law firm to investigate thousands of cases of human rights violations from a Saudi-led blockade on Qatar and seek compensation.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/163690.html

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