Kuwait: Arab Rift May Lead to Undesirable Consequences

The Kuwaiti emir, who has led mediation efforts to resolve the Arab crisis, has cautioned that the dispute between Qatar and three fellow (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council members could lead to “undesirable consequences”.

Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah was also quoted by Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA as saying on Monday that it was difficult for him to see the division among (P)GCC member states, Aljazeera reported.

“It is quite difficult for us, the generation that built the (P)GCC 37 years ago, to see the divisions among its members, which may lead to undesirable consequences,” Sheikh Sabah said.

“I lived the first moments of building the (P)GCC and this is why I cannot stand silent without trying to mediate for the rapprochement among the brothers. It is a duty that I cannot walk away from. No matter how difficult the efforts, I will do my best to mediate among the brothers.”

Sheikh Sabah, 87, visited Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar last week in an effort to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said earlier on Monday that he remained committed to the Kuwaiti process.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and transport ties a week ago, accusing Doha of backing “terrorism”—charges that Qatar denies.

The three Arab countries also ordered Qatari nationals to leave within 14 days, while Saudi, UAE and Bahraini citizens were also given the same timeframe to leave Qatar.

Amnesty International criticized the move, accusing the Arab states of toying with the lives of thousands of people in their dispute with their neighbor.

The sanctions have also disrupted imports of food and other materials into Qatar and caused many foreign banks to scale back their business with the country.