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Saudi Arabia, Qatar Appear to Mend Ties After 3 Yr Feud

Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO, EGYPT - The Gulf Cooperation Council held its 41st annual summit
   outside the Saudi capital Riyadh Tuesday, amid optimism over the
   apparent resolution of a long-standing conflict with Qatar. Riyadh has
   agreed to reopen its land, air and sea borders with Doha.

   Qatari TV showed the country's leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamid Al Thani
   being'¯met at the airport in Riyadh and embraced by long-time adversary
   Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in the lead-up to Tuesday's Gulf
   Cooperation Summit in the Saudi province of Al-Ula.

   The Saudi crown prince, who'¯chaired the summit, thanked allies and
   friends of the kingdom for mediating with Qatar over many months to
   bring about the resumption of relations at the Tuesday summit.

   He said that he thanks the late emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad
   al-Sabah, and the current emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, as well
   as allies like the United States for mediating the Al-Ula Agreement
   [with Qatar] that is now being signed to forge stability and solidarity
   in the Gulf.

   Saudi Arabia reopened its land, sea and air borders with Qatar as a
   result of the agreement and Arab media showed the reopened border
   checkpoint between the two countries. It did not appear, however, that
   much, if any, traffic was moving in either direction. Up to 800 trucks,
   carrying food and other supplies, normally go through the crossing
   every day.

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