Amid Gulf talks, regional interests Qatar's 'priority'

ANKARA

Qatar on Friday said regional interests remain its top priority as it welcomed Kuwait’s statement regarding progress in ongoing discussions to resolve the Gulf crisis.

“The Kuwaiti statement is an imperative step towards resolving the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] crisis,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al- Thani, Qatar’s foreign minister, said on Twitter.

He thanked Kuwait for its “mediation” and the US for its “efforts.”

“The interest and security of the people of the Gulf and the region remain our top priority,” he said.

His statement came after Sheikh Ahmad Nasser al-Sabah, Kuwait’s foreign minister, said talks to resolve the dispute – which has seen Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt severe ties with Qatar since 2017 – have been “fruitful.”

The top Kuwaiti diplomat said all sides have expressed a desire “to reach a final agreement.”

Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, also praised Kuwait and the US for their moves to end the dispute.

“We hope that these efforts, which have been made for the good of the region, will result in success,” he said on Twitter.

Oman also welcomed the Kuwaiti minister’s positive statement, and hailed the efforts made by Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah and US President Donald Trump to resolve the dispute.

Trump, according to a report by US daily New York Times, is pressing for a solution to the standoff before he leaves office in January.

His adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was in the region this week and met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Wednesday.

Accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism and meddling in their internal affairs, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt cut ties with Doha and imposed a land, sea, and air blockade on the country in 2017.

Qatar denies the charges and has voiced readiness for dialogue to end the impasse.