Egypt, Qatar hold first meeting since accord ending Gulf row

Dubai: Delegations from Qatar and Egypt met in Kuwait on Tuesday for the first time since an agreement last month to end a rift, both countries’ foreign ministries said, in a further push to bury a Gulf Arab diplomatic feud with repercussions around the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt agreed in January at a summit in Saudi’ AlUla to restore diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Doha, which had been severed in 2017 over accusations that Qatar supported terrorism.

Qatar on Monday similarly met a delegation from the UAE in Kuwait for their first bilateral talks.

“The two sides welcomed measures each has taken since signing the AlUla statement, as a step on the path of building confidence between the two fraternal countries,” the statement said.

Since the agreement, air and travel links have resumed between Qatar and the four states. Each state is to arrange bilateral talks with Qatar to resolve individual issues.

Bahrain’s foreign ministry said last month it had written to Qatar inviting Doha to send a delegation to Bahrain to start bilateral talks to implement the AlUla agreement. Qatar has not yet responded, Bahrain’s foreign minister has said.