His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has said that the State of Qatar is ready for dialogue to resolve a diplomatic crisis with a Saudi-led group, but stressed that any solution to the crisis must respect his country
sovereignty.

"We are open to dialogue to resolve the outstanding problems," so long as Qatar's "sovereignty is respected," Sheikh Tamim said in a televised address on 21 July 2017, his first since the June 5 rupturing of ties with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

Sheikh Tamim said his country was targeted by unprecedented campaign. He valued Kuwait's mediation and the support of the United States, Turkey and Germany for the efforts to resolve the crisis.

The Emir thanked Turkey for "putting into force quickly a cooperation agreement signed between us and meeting our basic needs".

"It is clear that the campaign against us was pre-planned. We took a test and passed it," Sheikh Tamim said.

The Emir hailed the solidarity and resolve that Qataris have shown in the face of the crisis, and said it would make his country, which will host football's World Cup in 2022, even more resilient.

'Smear campaign'

"People are amazed to see Qatari people maintaining high level of morale despite the unprecedented smearing campaign," Sheikh Tamim said.

"It was a true ethical trial. Our people have passed the test with colours, and we have held steadfast to our principles and traditions even in the time of trials, simple for the reason that we respect ourselves.

"I call on all of you to continue to hold on to that."

He also said that Qataris are called upon to open economy for investments. "I have made instruction to diversify our economy."

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt imposed sanctions on Qatar, accusing it of financing extremist groups and allying with their arch-foe Iran, allegations that Doha denies.

In his address, the Qatari Emir stressed that his country was fighting terrorism not because it wanted to please others but because it believed in that.

"Qatar is fighting terrorism, relentlessly and without compromises, and there is international recognition of Qatar's role in this regard," he said.

The US and other Western countries have dispatched senior envoys to the region to press both sides to resolve the dispute.

The crisis was precipitated after Qatar's News Agency, the country's state media, was hacked to post a false statement of the Emir purportedly critical of the US foreign policy.

Sheikh Tamim said the four countries tried to undermine Qatar's foreign policy, and muzzle freedom of expression.

"The perpetrators have undermined our sovereignty and independence by fabricating false statements to mislead international public opinion," the Emir said.

Qatar's ministry of interior on July 20 said the cyberattacks originated in the UAE.