Gargash has confidence talks can heal Gulf rift with Qatar
The UAE hopes that next month’s Gulf Co-operation Council summit will enhance intra-Gulf dialogue.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash said the UAE was confident and optimistic that Saudi Arabia was efficiently managing the Gulf crisis.
“From Riyadh, the capital city of the Gulf decisionmaking, we, God willing, are taking steps to enhance the intra-Gulf dialogue towards the future,” Dr Gargash said on Twitter.
Kuwait announced last week that the six-member GCC would meet on January 5 in Saudi Arabia, which has expressed its willingness to resolve the dispute.
The bloc brings together the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
Mr Gargash’s statement came a day after he said there was a prevailing willingness in the region to solve the issue, with possible talks on the cards to attempt to end the three-year rift between Qatar and its neighbours.
“The political and social atmosphere in the Gulf is looking to end the Qatar crisis and for the best method to guarantee Doha’s commitment to any agreement that brings good for the region,” he said on Twitter.
“But, Qatari media seems adamant on undermining any agreement.”
He described this as “a strange and difficult phenomenon to explain”.
This month, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that a resolution of the Gulf diplomatic crisis was within sight, with all of the governments involved being on board and a final agreement expected soon.
Egypt and the UAE have since given their public backing to the negotiations.