Gulf Arab ministers to talk about methods to solve diplomatic dispute

DUBAI (Reuters) – Gulf Arab international ministers will keep a virtual conference hosted by Bahrain on Sunday forward of an annual summit to go over methods to ending a diplomatic row that has undermined‮ ‬regional stability and thwarted Washington’s attempts to type a united entrance towards Iran.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017, accusing it of backing “terrorist” teams. Doha denies the charge and accuses its neighbours of trying to find to curtail its sovereignty.

On the other hand, Riyadh has pushed for a resolution of the dispute as it seeks to soften criticism from U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, who pledged to take a firmer stance with the kingdom than his predecessor.

Bahrain reported in a assertion the digital conference of foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will get ready the ground for the 41st session of the GCC Summit which will be held on Jan. 5.

“Talks have been going on an eventual arrangement but it is nonetheless function in development,” a Gulf official told Reuters.

Sources have claimed they anticipated an agreement to be attained by the summit, and could result in a established of rules for negotiations or a much more concrete move involving reopening airspace to Qatar.

But Qatar has explained to Kuwait and the United States, the two mediators in the dispute, that any resolution should really be primarily based on mutual respect, which include of foreign policy.

Doha experienced been established 13 demands, ranging from closing Al Jazeera tv and shuttering a Turkish base to slicing hyperlinks to the Muslim Brotherhood and downgrading ties with Iran.

Saudi Arabian Overseas Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud reported this thirty day period that a resolution to the dispute with Qatar seemed “within reach” immediately after Kuwait announced development toward ending the row.