Kuwait calls for dialogue to resolve Gulf crisis

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA (AA) – Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Sabah on Sunday called for dialogue to resolve the diplomatic rift between Gulf Arab countries and Qatar.

Doha was "ready to understand the concerns of its brothers and respond to efforts aimed at enhancing security and stability", he was quoted by the official KUNA news agency as saying.

On Monday, five Arab countries -- Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Yemen severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.

The countries also issued a list of 59 individuals and 12 charity groups in Qatar they accused of being linked to terrorism.

Qatar, for its part, has strenuously denied the accusations, describing the moves to diplomatically isolate it as “unjustified”.

Kuwait did not follow the suit of other Arab states in cutting ties with Qatar and has been trying to mediate a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

"Kuwait will not abandon efforts and will continue to seek to heal the rift and tackle the root causes of tension in the brotherly relations," al-Sabah said.

The recent escalation came two weeks after the website of Qatar’s official news agency was allegedly hacked by unknown individuals who reportedly published statements attributed to the country’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

The incident triggered a diplomatic row between Qatar and its neighbors.