Trade and transportation could resume between Qatar and boycotting countries within a week, the United Arab Emirates' minister of state for foreign affairs said on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies agreed on Tuesday to restore ties with Qatar, ending a boycott imposed in 2017. Tuesday's deal has US backing.

"Measures to be implemented within a week of the agreement include practical measures of airlines, shipping and trade," the UAE minister, Anwar Gargash, told reporters.

However, other issues such as restoring full diplomatic relations and the Turkish presence in the Gulf would take longer, the official said. "Some issues are easier to fix and some others will take a longer time."

"We have a very good start with (Tuesday's) agreement... but we have issues with rebuilding trust," said Gargash.

"There will be bilateral working groups to move forward on other issues," he added. (Reuters)



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