Kuwait calls for dialogue to resolve Gulf crisis

DOHA: 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 extremism.

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

Qatar vehemently 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.

Kuwait also stressed that resolving the crisis must be done through the GCC and through dialogue between the brotherly countries. 

Al Sabah said that Qatar is ready to respond to the efforts made by H H Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah to reach an agreement. 

In a statement reported by KUNA, Al Sabah stressed that his country will not spare any effort in finding a resolution that gets to the root of the causes of the tension.