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Kuwait FM says Gulf crisis negotiations 'fruitful'
Kuwait FM says Gulf crisis negotiations 'fruitful'
There was some movement on the reconciliation talks between Gulf countries, but how much remains to be seen.
2 min read
Sheikh Ahmed said all parties had expressed a desire to find a solution [Getty]
Kuwait’s foreign minister said on Friday that there were "fruitful discussions" being made to resolve the three-year-long Gulf blockade, though he did not specify which countries are on board.
Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah made the remarks in a television broadcast in which he thanked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Jared Kushner for helping with the negotiations.
"All parties that participated in the reconciliation talks expressed their desire to maintain GCC stability," Sheikh Ahmed said, adding that all involved "expressed their desire to find a final and lasting solution to the GCC Crisis for the benefit of their peoples".
Crucially, the countries that reportedly expressed a desire to reconcile in this manner have not been named, indicating that there is still some way to go in the process.
Sheikh Ahmed's remarks followed similar comments from his Qatari counterpart at the Mediterranean Dialogues in Rome. At the conference, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that talks mediated by Kuwait are signalling an advancement in finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but didn’t specify if a breakthrough is imminent.
"We are optimistic that we will reach a solution to the Gulf crisis, but we cannot guarantee that all problems will be solved", Sheikh Mohammed said, adding that "any solution to the Gulf crisis must be a comprehensive solution that preserves the unity of the Gulf."
"We believe the end of the crisis is important for the security of the region and for sake of our people. This crisis needs to end based on mutual respect and the rights of all people of the Gulf."
He added: "Qatar is not differentiating between any of the countries. We hope things will move in the right direction but we cannot yet predict if it will be imminent and if it will be resolved in one day," Sheikh Mohammed said.
The Gulf crisis was triggered by an illegal air, land and sea blockade on Qatar in June 2017, when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Doha over false allegations it supports terrorism.
Qatar has vehemently denied the allegations and remained consistent on its stance throughout the ordeal.
Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah made the remarks in a television broadcast in which he thanked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Jared Kushner for helping with the negotiations.
"All parties that participated in the reconciliation talks expressed their desire to maintain GCC stability," Sheikh Ahmed said, adding that all involved "expressed their desire to find a final and lasting solution to the GCC Crisis for the benefit of their peoples".
Crucially, the countries that reportedly expressed a desire to reconcile in this manner have not been named, indicating that there is still some way to go in the process.
Sheikh Ahmed's remarks followed similar comments from his Qatari counterpart at the Mediterranean Dialogues in Rome. At the conference, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that talks mediated by Kuwait are signalling an advancement in finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but didn’t specify if a breakthrough is imminent.
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"We are optimistic that we will reach a solution to the Gulf crisis, but we cannot guarantee that all problems will be solved", Sheikh Mohammed said, adding that "any solution to the Gulf crisis must be a comprehensive solution that preserves the unity of the Gulf."
"We believe the end of the crisis is important for the security of the region and for sake of our people. This crisis needs to end based on mutual respect and the rights of all people of the Gulf."
He added: "Qatar is not differentiating between any of the countries. We hope things will move in the right direction but we cannot yet predict if it will be imminent and if it will be resolved in one day," Sheikh Mohammed said.
The Gulf crisis was triggered by an illegal air, land and sea blockade on Qatar in June 2017, when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Doha over false allegations it supports terrorism.
Qatar has vehemently denied the allegations and remained consistent on its stance throughout the ordeal.
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