Hope summit ends Gulf crisis

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KUWAIT CITY, March 10: The Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Al-Jarallah was recently quoted as saying he hopes the proposed US-GCC summit which is expected to be held next spring will see the end of the Gulf crisis, according to gulf-times.com. The ‘times’ attributing its reports to the Kuwait News Agency, quoted Al-Jarallah as saying although invitations have yet to be sent to the participants in the summit, the US has been trying to host Gulf leaders to resolve the dispute.

“However, several prominent Gulf figures would be shortly visiting the US, amid moves which could pave the way for the convening of the summit,” Al-Jarallah was quoted as saying.

The Kuwaiti official expressed hope the summit will be held and the Gulf dispute will be solved. He went on to say, “The region is facing dangerous challenges, and we will not be able to face these challenges individually.” Qatar’s foreign minister has said his country is willing to participate in the US-GCC summit provided the countries involved in the dispute provided they show real will to do so and not coercion.

Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC, earlier this month, Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said any solution to the dispute between the GCC countries must be based on the principles of equality between the nations of the region. Al-Jarallah recalled the successful efforts of HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah to prevent the dispute running out of control. He said the efforts exerted by HH the Amir were based on his commitment to preserve the bloc’s unity.

“The Amir of Kuwait moved quickly to resolve the Gulf dispute and he succeeded in calming the atmosphere,” the Kuwaiti official said. Referring to the lack of progress in the peace efforts, the Kuwaiti deputy foreign minister said HH the Amir has not despaired over the impasse “to close the page of this dispute.” He noted the great role of the Kuwaiti Amir in fostering the GCC, saying the brothers in member countries were aware of the role played by him.

Al-Jarallah said in the absence of cohesion, the Gulf system will remain weak to face the challenges. He added, “the United States is aware of this and it is seeking, as we seek in Kuwait, to end this dispute and to devote ourselves to face these threats.” The Gulf crisis was triggered on June 5 when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a land, sea and air blockade after accusing it of supporting ‘terrorism’ and ‘extremism’ which Qatar has strongly denied

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