SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Region Presidency said on Wednesday that it welcomes steps by Gulf countries to resolve their differences, after Gulf Arab countries agreed to restore ties with Qatar.
Gulf Arab leaders gathered in Saudi Arabia for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit on Tuesday in an effort to end a long-running dispute with Qatar that shuttered Gulf unity at a time of heightened regional issues with Iran.
Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud said Riyadh and its Arab allies agreed to restore ties with Doha to end a boycott imposed in mid-2017, in a deal backed by the United States.
“We welcome the success of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit, the joint declaration, the reopening of the atmosphere, and the work towards resolving the differences between our brothers in the Gulf states,” the Kurdistan Region Presidency said in a tweet on Wednesday.
“These positive developments will have a major impact on security and stability in the region,” it tweeted.
On Tuesday, Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abulrahman Al-Thani tweeted that leaders “closed the page on disagreement”.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States welcomed what he called a “breakthrough to store Gulf and Arab unity.”
“We hope the Gulf countries will continue to reconcile their differences. Restoring full diplomatic relations is imperative for all parties in the region to unite against common threats,” he added.
The emerging deal followed mediation efforts by the United States and Kuwait, and a U.S. official has said Qatar would suspend legal cases related to the boycott.
Ahead of the gathering in the historic city of al-Ula, also attended by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, Kuwait said Saudi Arabia would reopen its air space and borders to Qatar. The other three nations have yet to announce similar moves.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt severed diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Qatar over allegations Doha supports terrorism and is cozying up foe Iran. Qatar denies the charges and says the embargo aims to curtail its sovereignty.
