Qatar, Saudi Arabia agree to reopen airspace, borders

DOHA, Qatar (AA) – After a feud of more than three years, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have agreed to reopen their airspace and borders starting tonight, Kuwait’s foreign minister announced on Monday.

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah spoke to Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman over the phone to discuss the matter, according to Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser al-Sabah.

He said the leaders agreed to address all related issues during a Gulf Cooperation Council summit set to kick off in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday.

The development marks a breakthrough in efforts to end a diplomatic crisis that has seen Qatar facing a blockade by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt since June 2017.

Accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism and meddling in their internal affairs, the four countries cut ties with Doha and imposed a land, sea, and air blockade on the country.

Qatar, with the support of Turkey, consistently denied the charges and voiced readiness for dialogue to end the impasse.

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat