Kuwaiti leader gets 'verbal message' from Qatari emir

By Ahmed al-Masri

KUWAIT CITY (AA) - Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah on Tuesday received a “verbal message” from his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, according to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

KUNA reported that the Kuwaiti leader had received the Qatari emir’s two brothers, Sheikh Jasim bin Hamad and Joaan bin Hamad, who, the news agency said, had delivered the message from their brother.

The message, according to KUNA, stressed the “brotherly relations between the two countries” and tackled “recent developments in the region”.

The brothers reportedly arrived earlier Tuesday on a visit that had not been previously announced.

"Sheikh Jasim bin Hamad Al Thani, personal representative of the Emir of Qatar, and Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani arrived in the country [Kuwait] bearing a verbal message from Sheikh Tamim to Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah," KUNA reported.

According to the news agency, the pair was received at the airport in Kuwait City by Kuwaiti Deputy Minister for Emiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah al-Sabah.

It did not provide any additional details.

Delivery of the verbal message comes amid an ongoing inter-Arab diplomatic crisis in which Kuwait has tried to play a mediating role.

In June, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain abruptly cut diplomatic and commercial ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups in the region.

Qatar, for its part, has denied the accusations, describing the attempts to isolate it as a breach of international law.