United Arab Emirates

A three-member delegation from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) was dispatched to Qatar on June 12 for preparations to establish a military base in the Gulf country.

The delegation has continued its study on "exploration and coordination" as part of preparations for the deployment, a written statement from the TSK said June 13. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday slammed the economic and political isolation of Qatar as inhumane and contrary to Islamic values after key Gulf states broke off ties with Ankara's ally, AFP reported.

Saudi Arabia's aviation body said on June 13 that the closure of its airspace to flights from Qatar was within the kingdom's sovereign right to protect its citizens from any threat.

The comments were in reaction to remarks by Qatar Airways' chief executive that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were violating international law by shutting out Qatari flights.

Qatar Airways on June 12 called on the UN's aviation body to declare a Gulf boycott against the carrier "illegal" and a violation of a 1944 convention on international air transport.     

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he will conduct a trilateral teleconference call with French President Emmanuel Macron and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on June 13 regarding the resolution of the Qatar diplomatic crisis.

Qatar, which is facing a large diplomatic blockade from a collection of Arab countries, will always remember Turkey's support during these difficult times, Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the sister of Qatar's ruling emir, has told the Hürriyet Daily News. 

Qatar, which is facing a large diplomatic blockade from a collection of Arab countries, will always remember Turkey's support during these difficult times, Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the sister of Qatar's ruling emir, has told the Hürriyet Daily News. 

Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu has met with the diplomatic envoys of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in Ankara as part of efforts to solve an ongoing crisis between the Gulf States and Qatar.

Qatar can easily defend its economy and currency against sanctions by other Arab states, Qatari finance minister Ali Sherif al-Emadi told CNBC television in an interview broadcast on June 12.

He added that the countries which had imposed sanctions would also lose money because of the damage to business in the region.

The Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias gave an interview on Alpha Radio, and he said some really interesting things:

M. NIKOLTSIOU: Minister, good morning and thank you for being with us.

N. KOTZIAS: Good morning from Kozani. I hope yours is a beautiful Saturday.