Kuwait looking forward to positive outcomes in GCC summit

Kuwait is optimistic about next week’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit and an end to a two-year row between Qatar and a Saudi-led bloc, Kuwait Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al Jarallah has said.

The annual GCC summit will be held in the Saudi capital Riyadh on December 10. The gathering has been preceded by Kuwaiti efforts to resolve the Qatar dispute.

“Kuwait looks forward to the Gulf summit with a lot of optimism and hope to achieve Gulf people’s aspirations for security and stability,” Kuwait Deputy Foreign Minister Al Jarallah said, according to local media.

The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. Al Jarallah hoped that representation at the Riyadh summit will be at the highest level.

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt broke off diplomatic and transportation links with Qatar over its support for extremist groups. Kuwait has since attempted to mediate in the row. Last month, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain announced sending their national teams to play in the Gulf Cup, the region’s prestigious football tournament, a move seen as a sign of de-escalation in tensions.

In late 2017, the three countries stayed away from the tournament that was due to be held in Qatar, but they reversed their non-participation after the championship was switched to Kuwait.

“There are indications that the chapter of disagreement between brothers will be closed,” Al Jarallah told reporters late Sunday.

“Participating in the Gulf Cup underway in Doha and setting a date for holding the [GCC] summit are definitely positive indications,” he added.

The anti-Qatar quartet has repeatedly demanded Doha comply with a set of conditions to mend ties. The demands include Qatar’s severance of links with militant groups, scaling down ties with Iran, accused of meddling in Arab affairs and shutting down Al Jazeera TV, seen as a mouthpiece of the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Qatar has refused the conditions, saying they violate its sovereignty.