Saudi Arabia to open airspace_ land and sea border with Qatar
Saudi Arabia has opened its land border with Qatar_ and according to Kuwait s foreign minister_ is set to reopen its airspace and sea border.
The breakthrough announcement on Monday came on the eve of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit and could pave the way towards resolving a political dispute that led Riyadh and its allies to impose a boycott on Qatar.
Kuwait s foreign minister said_ citing a deal towards resolving a political dispute that led Riyadh and its allies to impose a boycott on Qatar. Kuwait s foreign minister said that the Kuwaiti emir had spoken with Qatar s emir and Saudi Arabia s crown prince.
The conversations emphasised that everyone was keen on reunification and would gather in Al-Ula [for the GCC summit] to sign a statement that promises to usher in a bright page of brotherly relations .
In June 2017_ the blockading countries Saudi Arabia_ the UAE_ Bahrain and Egypt accused Qatar_ among other things_ of supporting terrorism and being too close to Iran and severed economic and diplomatic ties. They also imposed a land_ sea and air blockade on Qatar. Qatar has repeatedly denied the allegations and said there was no legitimate justification for the severance of relations.
Kuwait has been mediating between Qatar and four Arab states.
Last month_ the GCC said Qatar s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was invited to the bloc s summit meeting_ which will be held in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. On Monday evening_ Qatar s Government Communications Office confirmed that Sheikh Tamim will attend the summit that takes place in the northwestern Al-Ula province.
In remarks carried by the Saudi state-run news agency on Monday_ Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the GCC summit will be inclusive _ leading the states toward reunification and solidarity in facing the challenges of our region .
Shortly after the announcement_ Anwar Gargash_ the UAE s minister of state for foreign affairs_ described the upcoming summit as historic .
Meanwhile_ the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement that the country welcomed the decision on reopening the border_ adding that it was an important step towards resolving the dispute . -Aljazeera