As deadline looms, Kuwait royal envoy sets out for Doha

By Mohammed Abdul-Ghaffar

KUWAIT CITY (AA) - Kuwaiti royal envoy Khaled al-Fulaij set out for Doha on Tuesday as part of ongoing Kuwaiti efforts to resolve a month-long political standoff between Qatar and a handful of fellow Arab states.

Al-Fulaij, who also serves as advisor to Kuwait’s royal court, is expected to deliver a message from Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah to his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, according to Kuwait’s official KUNA news agency.

In a related development, Kuwaiti diplomatic sources told Anadolu Agency that Kuwaiti Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and acting Minister of Information Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah al-Mubarak Al Sabah will travel to Jeddah on Tuesday to meet with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir.

Al-Mubarak is expected to deliver Qatar’s response, delivered earlier Tuesday to Kuwaiti officials, to a list of demands issued last month by four Arab states -- led by Saudi Arabia -- to the Saudi leadership.

Earlier Tuesday, the Kuwaiti emir held talks with Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi in Kuwait City.

According to KUNA, that meeting was also attended by Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Hamad Al Sabah.

The news agency gave no further details about what was discussed at the meeting.

Bin Alawi's visit to Kuwait came one day after Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani delivered Doha’s response to a list of demands made by four Arab states -- which early last month imposed a strict embargo on Qatar -- to Kuwaiti officials.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain all abruptly cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of interfering in their domestic affairs and supporting terrorist groups.

The four states later presented Qatar with a list of 13 demands -- including the closure of pan-Arab news broadcaster Al Jazeera -- which they said must be met before the embargo is lifted.

The four states gave Doha a 10-day deadline, which expired on Sunday, by which to comply with their list of demands.

On Sunday, however, the four states agreed to extend the deadline by an additional 48-hours to midnight Tuesday.