Doha/Information Office/ 26 April 2017/ HE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has confirmed that the State of Qatar has previously provided funds to Iraq in an official, clear and public manner to support the efforts of the Iraqi authorities to release the kidnapped Qatari nationals, stressing that these funds did not enter through smuggling as stated by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, at a news conference.
HE the Foreign Minister said in a statement to Al-Jazeera today that the kidnapped Qatari nationals and their companions were officially issued visas, and they were under the protection of the Iraqi security authorities when they were kidnapped. HE the Minister expressed surprise at Abadi's speech, at the press conference in which he said that he was not satisfied with issuing of these visas.
HE the Foreign Minister expressed wonder at Abadi's remark about the Iraqi authorities lacked detailed information of the negotiations, stressing that they were fully aware of them, adding that the Qatari government has not faltered during the kidnapping period, which lasted for a year and a half in communication with the Iraqi authorities and that there was full coordination in all details, HE the Minister said, explaining that the Iraqi authorities had asked the State of Qatar in more than one meeting to support the process of liberating the abductees.
The State of Qatar wanted to provide support to the Iraqi authorities and if it would not need this support, the funds would be returned to Qatar in accordance with the appropriate legal procedures for the Iraqi authorities," HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al -Thani said, pointing out that these funds had been introduced to Iraq in public and did not have the diplomatic stamp on it to spare the inspection.
HE the Foreign Minister stressed the State of Qatar's commitment not to violate the sovereignty of States and international laws and not to get involved in money laundering issues, adding that these funds were introduced to Iraq officially and will get out of there also officially.
HE the Minister stressed that these funds would be at the disposal of the Iraqi authorities, stressing that the State of Qatar did not deal with armed groups outside the authorities of the state, and said that "these funds if used by the Iraqi government to support these militias, this is an Iraqi issue and not a Qatari one.