Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has rejected the latest suggestions made by Qatar’s Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah in which he proposed mediation between the government and the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, dismissing the proposal as an interference in its domestic affairs.
“Egypt rejects all forms of intervention in its affairs,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid, said in a statement, stressing that the Qatari minister’s remarks were “unacceptable” and “infringe upon Egyptian judicial verdicts, the decisions of the Egyptian government and the national consensus on the Brotherhood’s being a terrorist organization.”
Abu Zeid added that Egypt has no room for negotiations or mediation proposals by Qatar.
In an interview with the satellite TV channel Al-Araby on Friday, Al-Attiyah suggested that the Brotherhood, branded by authorities in Egypt as a terrorist entity, is a political player that should be included in the political scene. He voiced hope for an “inclusive political dialogue” in Egypt that does not bypass any political group.
Ties between Cairo and Doha have deteriorated since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi, following mass protests against the Muslim Brotherhood rule. Doha had been Morsi’s most notable political and financial backer and Egyptian authorities have frequently accused Qatar of interfering in their domestic affairs.
The Egyptian media has waged a relentless war of words against rich Gulf kingdom, accusing it of supporting terrorism attributed to Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood.
Egypt’s judiciary is currently retrying reporters from Qatar's al-Jazeera English channel over charges of disseminating false news. Some local lawsuits have demanded Qatar be branded a pro-terrorist entity.
Meanwhile, ex-president Morsi is standing trial for leaking national security information to Doha.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
