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Qatari emir meets Merkel in 1st trip abroad since crisis

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, left, address the media during a joint news conference as part of a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, left, address the media during a joint news conference as part of a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, left, address the media during a joint news conference as part of a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

BERLIN (AP) – Qatar’s ruling emir met German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday on his first trip abroad since a diplomatic crisis erupted between the tiny Gulf nation and its neighbors, and the German leader voiced “great concern” that no end to the conflict is in sight.

Merkel, addressing reporters alongside the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said she hoped dialogue could lead to “fair compromises.”

“It’s cause for great concern that after 100 days a solution to this conflict is still not in sight,” she said.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates cut ties with Qatar in June over its close relations with Iran and its alleged support for extremists.

Qatar denies supporting extremism, saying the crisis is politically motivated.