A historic decision paving the way to end the three year GCC Crisis was made when two documents were signed: the final statement of the summit and the Declaration of Al-Ula were signed by all the members at the 41st session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.
There were several key events that occurred in the last 24 hours and let us update you on these.
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 Bloomberg, Egypt has 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 the Foreign Minister at the meeting.
According to an official statement released by Amiri Diwan, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will be attending the meeting of the forty-first session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, which will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, in the province of Al-Ula in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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.
The embrace between MBS and H.H. Sheikh Tamim after the Amir landed in Al Ula for the 41st GCC Summit has been lauded by people all over the Gulf region who see it as a sign of solidarity and brotherhood, the foundations on which the GCC stands.
The 41st GCC Summit was attended by His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Saudi Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman, the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister of Oman Fahd bin Mahmoud, UAE's Prime Minister and Vice President, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa and Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry.
Al Jazeera has reported that the 41st GCC Summit has led to a rise in stocks across the region with Qatar ending the day at 1.4% higher, marking the index’s biggest gain in nearly a month. Saudi Arabia ended the day with a 0.2% rise, Dubai with a 1.2% rise and Abu Dhabi's stocks rose to 0.6%.
In a Press Conference held today, after the historic 41st GCC Summit, GCC ministers spoke after Gulf leaders signed the agreement towards ending the diplomatic rift with Qatar.
The Al-Ula statement is to document the fraternal relations between Egypt and the countries of the Cooperation Council.
Speaking at the Press Conference in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Foreign Minister said that full diplomatic relations between blockading countries and Qatar is to be restored. The 4 blockading countries airspace will now be open to Qatar and relations shall return to normal.
June 5, 2017, saw the start of a blockade by GCC countries against Qatar. Not only did Saudi Arabia, close off its land border with Qatar-along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt-it closed off its air space and sea passage. Planes and cargo ships had to find new routes to get in and out of Qatar, diplomatic ties were cut, Qataris were told to leave these countries, and 12,000 Qatari camels were forced out of Saudi Arabia. These countries claimed Qatar funded terrorists, nurtured dissidents, was over-friendly with Iran and gave too much freedom to its news network, Al Jazeera.
Qatar refuted all claims and stood firm on its stance that it does not foster or fund terrorism in any way.
More on the blockade: Qatar since the blockade!
Sources: Al Jazeera; Al Jazeera; Al Jazeera; Al Jazeera
Cover image credit: Marsal Qatar
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