DOHA, Dec 4 (NNN-QNA) – The Qatari Emir received an invitation from the Saudi King, to attend the 40th Gulf Cooperation Council summit.
Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, received a written invitation from King Salman bin Abdelaziz Al Saud, to attend the 40th session of the GCC Supreme Council, to be held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Dec 10.
The invitation was first received by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatari minister of foreign affairs, during his meeting with Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, secretary general of the GCC.
Earlier, Zayani said, the summit would see GCC leaders discussing a host of important topics, to enhance inter-GCC cooperation and integration in political, defence, security and socioeconomic fields.
It has been the third time the Saudi King invited the Qatari Emir for a GCC summit, since a crisis erupted in June, 2017, between Qatar and a coalition led by Saudi Arabia, which severed diplomatic ties with Doha and imposed a total blockade on the gas-rich Gulf nation.
The Qatari ruler was absent from the two previous Gulf summits but sent ministers to attend the meetings.
The invitation coincided with some indications for an imminent thaw between the two sides. Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister, Khalid Al Jarallah, said that, positive signs appeared that the crisis would be resolved.
Jarallah hoped the representation at the Riyadh summit would reach its highest level and act as a “track for the return of Gulf summits like they used to.”
