Posted June 12, 2017 10:15:30

Photo: Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's regime has angered regional nations. (AP: Osama Faisal)

Qatar is ready to listen to the concerns of Gulf Arab states that have cut diplomatic and economic ties, Kuwait has announced, as it tries to mediate a solution to the worst regional crisis in years.

Saudi Arabia — along with allies Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — severed ties with Qatar last week, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and arch-foe Iran; charges Doha denies.

The rift has disrupted travel, separated families, severed commercial links, and sown confusion among banks and businesses while deepening divisions between their respective allies fighting in wars and political struggles from Libya to Yemen.

"[Kuwait] affirms the readiness of the brothers in Qatar to understand the reality of the qualms and concerns of their brothers and to heed the noble endeavours to enhance security and stability," Kuwait's Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah, said.

Kuwait, which has retained ties with Qatar and has often acted as a mediator in regional disputes, said it wanted to resolve the dispute "within the unified Gulf house".

A previous mediation effort by Kuwait — in which the emir, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, shuttled between Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Doha — failed to achieve an immediate breakthrough.

"Is this the beginning of wisdom and reasonable thinking? I hope so," UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash said after the announcement.

A peninsular nation of 2.5 million people, Qatar has for years punched well above its weight in world affairs by parleying its vast gas wealth into influence across the region.

But it was importing 80 per cent of its food from bigger Gulf Arab neighbours before they cut ties and is now in talks with Iran and Turkey to secure food and water supplies.

Iran — the main regional rival of Saudi Arabia — sent four cargo planes of food to Qatar and plans to provide 100 tonnes of fruit and vegetables every day, Iranian officials said on Sunday, amid concerns of shortages.

Senior officials from the countries opposed to Qatar have warned it appealing for foreign assistance would not advance a reconciliation.

In a sign Gulf states were seeking to lessen the human impact of their June 5 severing of ties, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE said on Sunday they had set up hotlines to help families with Qatari members, without elaborating.

'Biggest testimony to US failure in the Gulf'

US President Donald Trump at first offered to host Qatar and its adversaries — all US allies — at the White House, but on Friday said Qatar had been a high-level sponsor of terrorism and backed the Gulf pressure.

Saudi Arabia's powerful Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed efforts to "counter terrorism and extremism" in a telephone call with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday, state news agency SPA said.

But a Qatari diplomat said the crisis reflected a lack of US leadership.

Photo: Donald Trump said the US and Qatar had been "friends a long time" when he met with the emir last month. (AP: Evan Vucci, file photo)

"This is the biggest testimony to US failure in the Gulf," the diplomat told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"[It] gives others the impression the US does not know how to manage the relationship with its allies or is incapable."

On Friday, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt tightened their squeeze on Qatar by putting dozens of figures and charities they link to the country on terrorism blacklists.

Qatar's official overseer of charities denied on Sunday philanthropic groups in the country backed terrorism, saying it deplored the accusation.

Reuters

Topics: world-politics, foreign-affairs, qatar, kuwait