The US Department of State welcomed the decision to open the airspace and the land and sea borders between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar.

“A resolution of the wider three-year dispute between the Quartet and Qatar is in the interest of all Gulf Cooperation Council GCC members as well as the interest of the United States,” said a State Department spokesperson in a statement to Al Hurra TV channel.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah announced on Monday that an agreement had been reached according to which the airspace and land and sea borders would be opened between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar, starting from Monday night. 

Turkey also welcomed the decision to open the airspace and land and sea borders between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“We welcome the agreement made to open land, sea and air borders between Qatar and Saudi Arabia as of tonight,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, noting that this development is an important step towards resolving the Gulf crisis that has been going on since June 2017.

The Ministry praised the efforts of the international actors who contributed to reaching the agreement through their mediation efforts, led by the State of Kuwait.

The Ministry expressed the hope for a comprehensive and permanent resolution of the Gulf rift on the basis of mutual respect for the sovereignty of the countries, stressing that Turkey, which is a strategic partner of the Gulf Cooperation Council and places great importance on the security and stability of the Gulf region, will continue to support all efforts in this direction. 

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan welcomed yesterday the outcome of the 41st session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In a statement reported by Petra, Jordan’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi said that the final communique by the Gulf Arab leaders is a major achievement to heal the rift, end the Gulf crisis and restore the brotherly relations to their normal course, which will bolster solidarity and stability in the Arab Gulf region, serve its people’s aspirations for development and prosperity and strengthen pan-Arab solidarity and efforts to face common challenges.

Safadi hailed the keenness of all the brothers to enhance Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability, which was manifest in the agreement to end the dispute and bring reconciliation.

The minister valued the efforts of the late Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, which were pursued by H H Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, as well as the efforts of the United States and all the parties to end the crisis.

Safadi said Jordan will continue to work with all the brothers to promote solidarity and joint Arab action to face challenges and deepen Arab cooperation in the service of joint Arab interests and to achieve a better future for all Arab countries. 

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit has also welcomed the outcome of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, which was held yesterday in Al Ula governorate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

In a statement following his participation in the GCC summit, Aboul Gheit, affirmed that “any effective measure that leads to calm and normalcy among Arab countries will be in the interest of the collective Arab unity, and it for sure it is welcome, and in turns would strengthens the power and influence of the Arab League.”

“There is no doubt that the huge challenges facing the Arab world call for healing the rift as soon as possible and achieving consensus between Arab brothers, as any Arab differences should be solved for the sake of Arab security, which we all need as soon as possible,” he added.  Aboul Gheit stressed on working to reinforce a positive situation that emerged from the “Al Ula summit” and build on it to enhance confidence, appreciating efforts exerted by involved Arab countries to end the Arab rift, at a difficult time where Arabs are facing huge challenges. 

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan also welcomed the decision to reopen the airspace and land and sea borders between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In a statement posted on its website yesterday, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciated other steps being taken by the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which will contribute to resolution of outstanding issues between the GCC countries.

Pakistan lauds the positive role played by the Amir of the State of Kuwait towards the resolution of the differences between the countries of the GCC, the statement said, adding that his persistent and sincere efforts, and cooperation of the GCC countries, led to this important and amicable outcome. Pakistan continues to accord high importance to its relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as its bilateral relations with all GCC countries, the Ministry said. 

President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkir welcomed the reopening of borders between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“l welcome the decision to reopen the borders between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This is a very important step to achieve reconciliation in the Gulf region,” Bozkir said on his Twitter account.

“l strongly support the contributions of Kuwait and encourage resolution of the differences through dialogue and diplomacy,” he added. 

SOURCE: THEPENINSULAQATAR