HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attending a meeting with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifah of Bahrain and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also the UAE prime minister and ruler of Dubai, in Riyadh yesterday.
The agreement for the ambassadors to return to Doha “promises the opening of a new page that will present a strong base, especially in light of the sensitive circumstances the region is undergoing”, according to a GCC statement
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Gulf leaders yesterday agreed to return Saudi, UAE, and Bahraini envoys to Qatar, in a big boost to GCC unity ahead of the annual summit scheduled to be held in Doha next month.
Earlier, HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attended a meeting with the Custodian of the Two Holly Mosques, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifah of Bahrain and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also the UAE prime minister and ruler of Dubai, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) said.
The meeting took place at King Abdullah’s palace in Riyadh.
“They reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance co-operation and integration,” QNA said. “They also discussed the scope of supporting joint GCC work to the benefit of its people,” it added.
Qatar Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and members of the official delegation accompanying HH the Emir attended the meeting. GCC Secretary-General Abdul Latif al-Zayani was also present.
Local media had reported last week that leaders of the six-nation GCC, which also includes Oman, were expected to hold a meeting ahead of their annual summit in Doha on December 9-10, in a bid to overcome internal differences.
Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah has been leading a mediation effort to bridge the gap between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain withdrew their ambassadors to Doha in March over differences related to some policy matters.
A GCC statement yesterday said the agreement for the ambassadors to return to Doha “promises the opening of a new page that will present a strong base, especially in light of the sensitive circumstances the region is undergoing”.
“Based on this, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have decided to return their ambassadors to Doha,” it said.
HH Sheikh Tamim left Riyadh after the meeting.
Bidding the Emir farewell at the Riyadh Air Base was Riyadh Governor Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Qatar’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer al-Thani.
