The European Union welcomes the start of negotiations to resolve the Gulf crisis
The European Union (EC) was pleased this Saturday that the countries involved in the Gulf crisis, which has pitted Qatar against Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain for the past three years, have begun to negotiate a way out of the conflict.
"The settlement of the internal dispute will enable the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to restore its unity and resume its important work. The EU remains ready to further strengthen its longstanding partnership with a revitalised GCC", the spokesman for the European External Action Service said in a statement.
The EU praised the announcement made by Kuwait's Foreign Minister, Sabah Ahmed al Sabah, that efforts to resolve the crisis between the countries that make up this Council have been "fruitful" and welcomed the mediating role that this country, as well as the United States, has played in facilitating this declaration.
"The EU continues to support Kuwait's mediation efforts," the statement said. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a blockade on Qatar three years ago under accusations of supporting terrorism. With the exception of Egypt, all the countries involved in the dispute are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
This Friday, the Kuwaiti foreign minister announced that "fruitful talks have been held (in recent days) in which all parties have confirmed their interest in the solidarity and stability of the Arab and Gulf (Persian) countries" and in the importance of "reaching a final agreement".
The Qatari government confirmed shortly afterwards that "official talks to resolve three years of crisis have begun".
The crisis erupted in 2017, when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain broke off relations with Qatar and imposed an embargo on it, accusing it of supporting terrorism, something that Doha rejects. Qatar has not aligned itself clearly against Iran and furthermore maintains links with the Muslim Brothers, a group which the other four countries consider a terrorist organisation.
