EU actively supporting Kuwaiti mediation efforts: Mogherini
European states back Kuwaiti initiative
The European Union is actively supporting the Kuwaiti mediation efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis in the Gulf, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini announced Tuesday. The EU foreign policy chief in a statement said she is taking part in a number of high level engagements to de-escalate the situation with the backing of the 28 EU Member States, and she is in contact on a daily basis with all the relevant players including the foreign ministers of Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
She noted that last Friday she met in Croatia with Kuwait’s Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Information Minister, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak AlSabah, and underlined the importance of the unity and stability of the Gulf region and the “urgent need for a dialogue to avoid further escalation and resolve differences.” Both agreed that a solution should be found within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and that other countries should not be drawn into the dispute. Mogherini also met with the Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Thani, at the beginning of June. There she spoke of the good relations the EU has with the GCC, the interconnectedness of the region and that restoring a good level of regional cooperation in the Gulf is “key for the benefit of all citizens of the Gulf, of all people in the Gulf.” In an effort to engage all parties concerned, Mogherini also spoke with the foreign ministers Adel Al-Jubeir of Saudi Arabia and Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran. She also met Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Anwar Gergash, in Brussels on 20 June.
“All together, we encourage de-escalation and most of all we encourage all Gulf countries to engage in political dialogue without preconditions accepting the mediation role of Kuwait,” the High Representative said.
The EU is “ready to help, assist and accompany these mediation efforts in all ways that might be requested,” she added. Mogherini restated that “the European Union has the firm intention to keep strong relationships and ties with all the Gulf countries and we hope that they will manage to restore good working relations among them.”
Meanwhile, France yesterday reiterated its support for the mediation of the State of Kuwait in the current Gulf crisis around Qatar, saying the Kuwaiti initiative was positive in helping promote dialogue between the parties. “France invites the Gulf Arab States to settle the differences they evoke through consultations,” the French Foreign Ministry said. “We reiterate our support for the mediation brought by Kuwait, which constitutes a positive undertaking in favor of dialogue,” Paris added. Kuwait has played a crucial role in mediating between the parties and in shuttle diplomacy to encourage restraint and dialogue, and also to extend deadlines in the dispute.
Separately, Russia yesterday expressed its support for Kuwait’s efforts as the main mediator in the Gulf crisis. At the end of his meeting with the Arab League’s Secretary General Ahmad AbulGheit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow backs Kuwait as the country attempts to quell the ensuing rift between the Gulf neighbors. The Russian Foreign Minister noted that his country stands ready to join efforts to solve the conflict, if asked. Lavrov also underscored the need to quell the unrest through productive dialogue. —KUNA
Positive role