DUBAI (UAE) – The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) minister of state for foreign affairs said on Thursday that trade and transportation could resume between Qatar and Arab states boycotting it within a week.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies agreed to resume ties with Qatar, bringing to an end a boycott imposed in 2017 over charges that Doha backed terrorism and was cosying up to Iran, which it denies. The deal agreed on Tuesday has the support of the US government.
“Measures to be implemented within a week of the agreement include practical measures of airlines, shipping and trade,” UAE minister Anwar Gargash said.
He said other issues such as restoring full diplomatic relations and the Turkish presence in the Gulf would take longer. “Some issues are easier to fix and some others will take a longer time.”
In 2017 Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt had given Doha 13 conditions to bring an end to the boycott and they include closing al Jazeera TV and a Turkish military base, snapping links with the Muslim Brotherhood and downgrading ties with Iran.
“We have a very good start with (Tuesday’s) agreement… but we have issues with rebuilding trust,” said Gargash.
“There will be bilateral working groups to move forward on other issues,” he added.