Manama: Kuwait’s Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah has launched a bid to end a bitter standoff between Qatar and Egypt ahead of the Arab Summit to be hosted in Kuwait City next month, a local report said.
“The Amir, known for his wisdom and diplomatic experience is keen on providing the adequate conditions for the success of the Arab Summit,” ministerial sources told Kuwaiti daily Al Seyassah. “He led efforts to bridge the gap between the two countries, drawing on the respect he commands and the weight he has in the two capitals,” the sources that were not named said.
Ties between Egypt and Qatar have deteriorated since the military ouster of former president Mohammad Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood in July, following massive protests against his one-year rule. Qatar was often perceived as supporting Mursi and his group.
“The visit by Qatar’s Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to Kuwait last week was the first step taken by Kuwait to launch the mediation efforts,” the sources added in the remarks published on Tuesday. “Kuwait is always keen on repairing Arab fractures for the interests of their people. Everybody hopes that the Arab summit will accomplish achievements that will serve the Arab countries and people.”
The summit, held on a rotating basis, is scheduled for March 25-26 in the Kuwaiti capital.
Kuwaiti, Qatari and Egyptian news agencies on Tuesday said that the Kuwaiti foreign minister Shaikh Sabah Al Khalid had conveyed letters from Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad to the Emir of Qatar and to the Egyptian president Adli Mansour.
The letters dealt with relations between Kuwait and Qatar and between Kuwait and Egypt and ways to bolster them, the agencies said.
