Kuwaiti emir trying to mediate row between Persian Gulf Arab states

The Kuwaiti emir has engaged in shuttle diplomacy to help mediate a solution to the dispute between Qatar on the one side and Saudi Arabia and its allies on the other, the biggest diplomatic crisis to hit the Persian Gulf region in years.

Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported on Tuesday that Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Ale Sabah had paid a “brotherly visit” to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi state news agency reported that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Ale Saud and Sheikh Sabah discussed the development of events in the region,” but gave no further details.

Additionally, Kuwait’s Al-Araby Al-Jadeed website said that the Kuwaiti emir was expected to travel to the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, and then to Doha.

Qatar had earlier welcomed mediation to resolve the crisis.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates broke off relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region. They also suspended all land, air and sea traffic with Qatar, ejected its diplomats and ordered Qatari citizens to leave their countries.

Libya, the Maldives, the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, and Yemen’s former government also followed suit to cut ties with Qatar.

Jordan further downgraded its diplomatic relations with Qatar.

Meanwhile, Gabon also joined voices with the Saudi regime and its allies, condemning Qatar for “failing to respect international commitments and agreements on counter-terrorism.”

Gabon’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the African country was “preoccupied with Qatar's continuing support for terrorist groups.”

On Wednesday, the UAE banned people from publishing any expressions of sympathy with Qatar, saying the offenders would face a jail term of up to 15 years. The UAE-based Gulf News daily quoted Emirati Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi as threatening the sympathizers with Doha with strict measures.

ME