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Moscow Can Resolve Syrian War 'Thanks to Historic Ties With the Arab World'

© Sputnik / Stringer / Go to the mediabankFrom left: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before the talks in Moscow
From left: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before the talks in Moscow - Sputnik International
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Russia may have finally found a way to resolve the Syrian crisis, according to Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah, who also addressed Russian-Turkish relations.

Vladimir Putin during a meeting with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani - Sputnik International
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In an interview with RT, Qatari Foreign Minister Khaled bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah expressed hope that using its position in the Arab world, Russia may ultimately find a way to break the Syrian deadlock.

"We are convinced that thanks to its historic ties with the Arab countries, Russia will be able to find a way to solve the Syrian crisis," Al-Attiyah said.

He added that even though Qatar and Russia remain at odds over the future of Syria, the Moscow-Doha dialogue has helped to hammer out a common stance on the issue.

"We have no doubt that Russia stands for a united and secular Syria, and we agree with these principles," the Qatari Foreign Minister pointed out.

Touching upon Russian-Turkish relations, which were spoiled after Ankara's downing of a Russian warplane in November 2015, Al-Attiyah recalled that conflicts between Russia and the Ottoman Empire had not been uncommon in the past. He expressed confidence that the current deterioration in relations will not lead to grave political and military consequences.

"We very much hope that the Russian-Turkish settlement will be reached and that the two's differences will be resolved by diplomatic means thanks to the wisdom of both countries' authorities", he said.

Separately, he addressed global energy security, which he said should be maintained through the efforts of Moscow and Doha, the biggest gas exporters in the world.

"First of all, our countries have a moral duty, not just legal one, to ensure uninterrupted gas supplies to the world. It is difficult to find a home that could not be provided with electricity obtained from Russian or Qatari energy sources. So we complement each other in this regard. We are not rivals in energy", Al-Attiyah said.

November 23, 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the summit of the heads of state and government of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Tehran - Sputnik International
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His interview came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, in Moscow. Putin, for his part, stressed the necessity of coordinating the two countries' positions in the energy sector, especially in the gas sector.

The sides also voiced hope that the negotiations between Syrian authorities and the country's opposition will begin later this month. In addition, Russia and Qatar confirmed their readiness to closely cooperate on the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022.

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