Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah said on Friday that "fruitful" discussions had taken place during the last period to resolve the Gulf crisis that has continued since 2017, while responses to this step were welcomed by the Gulf and internationally.

Through a speech broadcast on Kuwait TV, the Kuwaiti foreign minister stated that these talks "affirmed their keenness on Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability, and to reach a final agreement that would achieve what they aspire to in terms of lasting solidarity between their countries, and achieve what is good for their people."

The Kuwaiti minister thanked Jared Kushner, advisor to the US President, for "the fruitful results that have been achieved in the way of resolving the dispute," which has erupted since 2017 between Qatar on the one hand, and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt on the other hand.

Later on announcing the statement, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawwaf Al-Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, expressed his satisfaction at what he described as the historic achievement that was achieved in reaching a final agreement to resolve the Gulf dispute.

He added - in a statement broadcast by the official Kuwait News Agency on Friday evening - that all parties confirmed through the agreement their keenness on solidarity, cohesion and Gulf and Arab stability.

He pointed out that the agreement reflects the aspiration of the concerned parties to achieve the supreme interests of their peoples in terms of security, stability, progress and prosperity.

The Emir of Kuwait recalled with appreciation the "benevolent and constructive" efforts of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who laid the foundations for the agreement.

The Emir of Kuwait congratulated the leaders of the countries concerned for their eagerness to achieve this step, and the Kuwaiti friends around the world for their support for the Kuwaiti mediation efforts.

He also thanked the US President Donald Trump for his supportive efforts, which reflect the commitment of the United States to maintain the security and stability of the region.

The crisis is wrapped up

Khalid Al-Jarallah, Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister, said in a televised statement on Friday that "the Gulf crisis has been closed, and a final agreement has been reached between the Gulf parties," adding, "This agreement will have to enter into the details related to it soon."

The German News Agency - quoting Al-Jarallah - stated that "there are close steps that will be announced to move towards the future and turn the page of the dispute," praising the efforts of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad and the Emir of the country Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and the American efforts.

Commenting on these developments, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the time has come to resolve the Gulf dispute, and stressed that he hopes that the Gulf reconciliation will take place because it is important to the peoples of the countries of the region.

Pompeo declined - during statements he made during the Manama dialogue - to speculate when such a solution will be achieved, but he said that Washington will continue to work to facilitate the holding of talks and dialogue for the sake of the solution.

Statement from His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Muhammad Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Minister of Information:

In the name of of Allah the Merciful

Within the framework of the reconciliation efforts that were previously led by my lord His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God have mercy on him, and in continuation of the efforts that he is currently making, Sir, His Highness

- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@MOFAKuwait) December 4, 2020

The Saudi position

For his part, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said that his country looks "with great appreciation for the efforts of the sisterly State of Kuwait to bridge the gap in viewpoints regarding the Gulf crisis, and we thank the American efforts in this regard."

He added - in a tweet to him on Twitter - "We are looking forward to the Kuwaiti and American efforts being crowned with success for the benefit and good of the region."

In his intervention at the Mediterranean Forum, he said that "remarkable progress has been made on the Gulf crisis thanks to Kuwaiti and American efforts, and we hope that this development will lead to a final agreement."

He added, "Of course, we are optimistic that we are close to finalizing an agreement between all the Gulf states, so that we can reach a solution that is satisfactory to all."

We consider with great appreciation the efforts of the sisterly State of Kuwait to bridge the gap in viewpoints regarding the Gulf crisis, and we thank the American efforts in this regard, and we look forward to being crowned with success for the benefit and good of the region.

- Faisal Bin Farhan (@FaisalbinFarhan) December 4, 2020

According to the French Press Agency, analysts previously indicated that any breakthrough would only include bilateral relations between Riyadh and Doha, and would exclude the UAE in particular, which has been the biggest critic of Doha since the start of the crisis.

However, the statements of the Saudi Foreign Minister may mean - according to the French Press Agency - that the solution may be more comprehensive, but the UAE and Bahrain have not yet commented on the progress made in efforts to solve this crisis.

On Thursday, Bloomberg said, "Saudi Arabia and Qatar are close to reaching a preliminary agreement to end the dispute that has lasted for more than 3 years, under pressure from the administration of the outgoing US President Donald Trump."

The agency added - quoting 3 sources whose identities were not revealed - that the initial agreement will not include the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.

The US agency quoted two sources as saying that the rapprochement is likely to include reopening the airspace and land borders between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, putting an end to the media war between them, and taking more steps to build confidence, as part of a detailed plan to gradually restore relations.

Country position

Commenting on the Kuwaiti statement, Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said - in a tweet to him on Twitter - that "the statement of the State of Kuwait is an important step towards resolving the Gulf crisis."

"We thank the brotherly Kuwait and its mediation since the beginning of the crisis, and we also appreciate the American efforts made in this regard, and we affirm that our priority has been and will remain the interest and security of the Gulf peoples and the region," he added.

The Kuwait statement is an important step towards solving the Gulf crisis.

We thank sisterly Kuwait and its mediation since the beginning of the crisis. We also appreciate the American efforts made in this regard, and we affirm that our priority has been and will remain the interest and security of the peoples of the Gulf and the region.

- Muhammad bin Abdulrahman (@MBA_AlThani_) December 4, 2020

Later, he stressed during the Forum for Mediterranean Dialogue in Rome that "at the present time there are some moves that we hope will put an end to this crisis," adding, "We consider that the unity of the Gulf is very important for the security of the region, and this crisis - which is unnecessary - must end." On the basis of mutual respect. "

He added that any kind of settlement to the crisis must be comprehensive and preserve the unity of the Gulf.

"We hope that things will move in the right direction, but we cannot predict whether a move is imminent, or the conflict will be completely resolved, and we cannot say that all problems will be solved in one day," he said.

He stressed that the Gulf crisis has nothing to do with "the Abraham agreements", or any normalization with Israel, stressing that normalization with Israel at the present time will not add any value to the Palestinian people.

The Sultanate of Oman welcomed the Kuwaiti statement, and considered that the Kuwaiti and American efforts in this regard reflect the keenness of all parties on Gulf and Arab solidarity and stability.

With the aim of reaching a final agreement that achieves lasting solidarity among all countries.

For his part, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, considered that the statement of the State of Kuwait regarding strengthening Gulf solidarity reflects the strength and cohesion of the Council.

# Statement |

The Sultanate welcomes the statement issued by the sisterly State of Kuwait regarding the positive results of the efforts for reconciliation in the Gulf.

pic.twitter.com/G5hMw6o4Kd

- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@FMofOman) December 4, 2020

International positions

In international reactions, the Turkish Foreign Ministry welcomed what it described as the positive developments related to resolving the Gulf dispute, and said that Ankara appreciates Kuwait's efforts to resolve the dispute.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed its hope that the Gulf dispute would be resolved through unconditional dialogue as soon as possible.

In turn, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Tehran welcomes the understandings announced by Kuwait regarding reconciliation and resolving the Gulf crisis.

Zarif added that his country hopes that any reconciliation between the Gulf states will contribute to stability and political and economic development for all, stressing that Iran's policy continues to adopt diplomacy, good neighborliness and regional dialogue.

For his part, Stefan Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that António Guterres was encouraged by the statements of the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister that the Gulf dispute was close to a solution.

Dujarric said that Guterres hopes that all concerned countries will formally resolve their differences, stressing the importance of the Gulf unity for peace, security and development in the region.

Optimism

Qatari writer and journalist Jaber Al-Harami considered that there is optimism to solve the crisis, pointing out that the Kuwaiti statement, even if it was brief, put the crisis in its correct context, more than 3 years after its outbreak.

He said that the region has witnessed many changes during the recent period, and that the crisis causes continuous losses and bleeding for all parties, stressing that Qatar had a clear vision from the beginning.

The head of the Al-Madar Center for Political and Strategic Studies, Saleh Al-Mutairi, said that the emergence of these promises today represents happy news about the imminence of a solution, years after the outbreak of this crisis, which came against the background of demands that were neither convincing nor understood.

He added that all parties are convinced today that there is no winner in this crisis, that everyone is a loser, and that the US administration is also convinced of the necessity and importance of resolving this crisis.

Al-Mutairi expressed his hope that the solution would be comprehensive and eternal, and that such justifications would not be repeated against the backdrop of which the crisis erupted.

breakthrough

For his part, the director of the Al-Jazeera office in Kuwait, Saad Al-Saeedi, said that it is clear that the last round of talks has achieved a clear breakthrough in the crisis, after the recent visit of Trump's advisor to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, indicating that Kuwait may have left the details for the countries concerned to announce them themselves.

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Washington, Wajd Waqfi, stated that the Kuwaiti statement came two days after Kushner's visit to the region, and that official Washington so far is still keeping its findings secret, but what we know is that an agreement was reached during Kushner's presence that includes opening the land and air borders.

She said that during the two days discussions continued, and that the Trump administration wanted a solution to this crisis before it left.

Al-Jazeera Net learned from informed Gulf sources that there are new developments that may constitute a breakthrough on ending the Gulf crisis.

The United States and Kuwait are working to end the dispute, which prompted Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt to impose a diplomatic and economic blockade on Qatar since mid-2017.