GCC summit did not tackle Qatar crisis

Summit witnessed poor representation from Gulf states

An informed source has confirmed that the current GCC summit in Kuwait did not tackle the Gulf crisis with Qatar.
The summit witnessed poor representation from the Gulf states.
Summit attendees included Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad, Emir of Kuwait; Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Emir of Qatar; Adel Al Jubair, Saudi Foreign Minister; Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Mohammad bin Mubarak Al Khalifa of Bahrain and Fahd bin Hamood of Oman.
The source pointed out that it was a day-long summit.
The delegations of the GCC states, the source said, will be leaving Kuwait on Wednesday evening, citing that the main reason behind the poor attendance is the stand taken by Qatar with three other Gulf states - Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain - regarding the present situation in Yemen and also Qatar siding with the Houthis, which has been shown by Qatar's media over the past couple of days.

Success in defeating terrorism in Iraq, Syria: Kuwait Emir

"We managed to ease up the Gulf crisis, keep the GCC council's march intact and hold the summit on time to preserve the progress of the GCC council's joint work," Emir of Kuwait Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad said.
"We shall keep thinking seriously through which we can cohere and modify the main system of the GCC - especially related to settling of disputes and guaranteeing our respect for each other," the Emir added.
"The international community succeeded in defeating terrorism in Iraq and Syria, yet the threat of terror still causes menace in the region and the whole world."
Al Sabah hailed the role played by the Saudi-led coalition in supporting legitimacy in Yemen and providing assistance and relief there, adding the only way-out of the Yemeni crisis is through political means.
"We call on Houthis to pursue a diplomatic solution and meet the three decisions; most importantly to fulfill the UN resolution No 2216."

• Kuwait
• MENA

Mustafa Al Zarooni

• malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com