Every Thursday, we bring you the latest updates on the blockade and GCC Crisis. Here's what happened last week: GCC Crisis Updates Week 185.
According to a United Arab Emirates Official, the GCC members that had boycotted Qatar may be resuming trade and travel links with Qatar within a week. However, restoring diplomatic relations between the involved parties may take more time as trust needs to be rebuilt, according to a report on the Reuters website.
In a virtual news conference UAE, Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash told the media that the measures that could be implemented within a week include:
"practical measures of airlines, shipping and trade”. (Reuters)
He also mentioned that full restoration of diplomatic relations between these GCC states would take some time because there were still some remaining differences on issues that included Iran, Turkey and the Muslim brotherhood.
According to Gargash:
"Some issues are easier to fix and some others will take a longer time.
“We have a very good start ... but we have issues with rebuilding trust.” (Reuters)
Speaking with the Al Jazeera channel, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the crisis was an exceptional situation in the past years and the solution is a victory for the Gulf Cooperation Council, according to Al Jazeera Arabic Twitter.
In a Tweet, the Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid announced his country's decision to restore full diplomatic relations with Qatar. The minister also added that the decision came after 'fruitful' discussions with the Qatari authorities. The Tweet mentioned that the Maldives welcomes the positive developments following the GCC Summit.
Qatar welcomed "Al-Ula Declaration" announced on the sidelines of the 41st session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, which was held in the Al-Ula Governorate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia earlier in the day, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and QNA.
Qatar underlined in a statement that this meeting came in at a decisive moment as an extension of the joint work process in its Gulf, Arab and Islamic framework, and in favour of the supreme interest in a way that strengthened the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between peoples, anchoring the principles of good neighbourliness and mutual respect.
H.H. the Amir and the accompanying delegation were seen off upon departure at Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport by H.R.H. Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, H.H. Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and H.E. Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al Aiban, according to QNA.
H.H. the Amir sent cables to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and H.R.H. Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, expressing sincerest thanks and appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to H.H. and the accompanying delegation.
In a press conference held after the historic 41st GCC Summit in the Al-Ula region of Saudia Arabia, GCC ministers spoke after Gulf leaders signed the 'Al-Ula Statement' towards ending the diplomatic rift with Qatar. Speaking at the press conference, the Saudi Foreign Minister said that full diplomatic relations between blockading countries and Qatar are to be restored. The four blockading countries airspace would also now be open to Qatar and relations would return to normal, according to Al Jazeera English and an official press release.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani left Doha this morning, heading to Saudi Arabia to chair the State of Qatar's delegation participating in the 41st session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), which will be held in Al-Ula governorate later today, according to QNA.
Last night, the air, sea and land borders between Qatar and Saudi Arabia were opened, the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister H.E. Sheikh Dr Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah announced on state TV, a move that showed things really were moving forward, according to Al Jazeera on its website.
According to Bloomberg, Egypt agreed to reopen its airspace to Qatar's flights, if certain, so far, 'unspecified' conditions were met. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was expected to attend the Summit, but was represented by his Foreign Minister at the meeting.
Summarised from Reuters; Al Jazeera Arabic Twitter; Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid; Al Jazeera English; Official Press Release; QNA; Al Jazeera; Bloomberg; Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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