Qatar has expressed its satisfaction at the return of a Qatari boat that had been forcibly seized on 30 April 2019 by the UAE authorities, reports QNA. In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the boat was carrying out routine exercises in Qatari territorial waters. After facing a technical fault, it was swept away into the territorial waters of the UAE, where the UAE authorities seized it and its crew.
The statement stressed Qatar has been working, over the last few days, through the diplomatic channels available and the help of some friendly and sister countries, to ensure that crew members are safe and unharmed.
The Ministry’s statement said, “’The State of Qatar announces the return of the Qatari boat and crew members safely and the State of Qatar thanks all those who helped to secure their return.”