Doha/Washington: In a significant development, an agreement is expected to be signed to lift the blockade on Qatar by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates at the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, at Al Ula in Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021. Doha too would abandon the lawsuit related to the blockade. The above four Arab nations had imposed a diplomatic, trade and travel embargo on Qatar in mid -2017 accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism. Qatar had denied this charge.
Following the truce, the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will head the Qatari delegation to Al-Ula Summit on Tuesday, the Amiri Diwan announced on Monday.
As a run up to the agreement, that would likely end the ongoing Gulf crisis, the air, sea and land borders between Qatar and Saudi Arabia also were to reopen on the night of January 4, 2021. An announcement in this regard was made by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah on live television on January 4 from Kuwait City. Sabah said the Amir of Kuwait had made calls with the Amir of Qatar and the Saudi Crown Prince in order to sign the “Al-Ula summit statement”. He informed that the Gulf Cooperation Council summit would be an inclusive summit and “all relevant issues” would be addressed.
Reports suggest White House adviser Jared Kushner had played an active role in negotiating the agreement and would be present at the signing ceremony with two other officials.
It may be mentioned that all -Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain , Egypt as well as Qatar – are the allies of the USA. Qatar is also the host of the next football world cup in 2022.
– global bihari bureau
