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Monday, February 22, 2021, 22:53
UAE, Qatar hold first meeting since Gulf detente
By Reuters
Monday, February 22, 2021, 22:53 By Reuters

In this Jan 5, 2021 file photo, journalists watch the arrival of the Qatar envoy ahead of the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council summit in the city of al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia. (FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)

DUBAI - Delegations from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar met in Kuwait on Monday for the first time since an agreement last month to end a rift of more than three years, the UAE state news agency WAM said.

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

Since the agreement, air and travel links have resumed between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt

ALSO READ: UAE and Qatar resume cross-border flights as ties normalize

“The two sides discussed joint mechanisms and procedures for implementing the al-Ula statement. They emphasised the importance of preserving Gulf kinship and developing joint Gulf action in the interest of GCC countries and their citizens, and of achieving stability and prosperity in the region,” WAM said.

They thanked Saudi and Kuwait for their roles in ending the rift.

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.

READ MORE: UAE to reopen all entry points with Qatar following Gulf dispute thaw

A UAE official said after the agreement that restoring diplomatic ties would require time as parties work to rebuild trust.


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