Doha, 14 April 2023 (GNP): On Wednesday, it was revealed that Qatar and Bahrain have decided to restore ties and reconcile their long-standing diplomatic clash.
The agreement for reconciliation between Qatar and Bahrain was put forward in January 2021.
According to Qatar’s foreign ministry, the neighbors “decided to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries according to the principles of the United Nations charter”.
“The two sides affirmed that this step stems from the mutual desire to develop bilateral relations and enhance Gulf unity and integration,” it added.
https://twitter.com/bahdiplomatic/status/1646270928052011009?cxt=HHwWgoC-6fmr3dgtAAAA
As the country’s official news agency reported, Bahrain’s foreign ministry also issued a similar statement.
Bahrain joined Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt in 2017 in diplomatic blockade of Qatar on grounds of its affiliation with Iran and its support for regional extremist groups.
Four Arab nations forbade Qatari ships and aircrafts from entering their territorial seas and airspace. But in 2021, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia restored their relations with Qatar. Bahrain is the last to follow the suite. Although, it is to be noted that UAE and Qatar have still not reopened their embassies.
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Officials from the UAE and Qatar met last week to discuss the matter in question. The meeting was described as having a “positive atmosphere” by the spokeswoman for the Qatari foreign ministry.
Due to complex concerns, such as their maritime boundary, it has been more difficult to mend relations between Qatar and Bahrain. The two sides frequently accuse one another of confining fishermen from the other country against their will.
The reunion between Qatar and Bahrain occurs amid a rush of regional initiatives to settle conflicts. Seven years after publicly severing ties, arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran has also decided last month to restart their relationship.
