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DOHA/DUBAI, April 18 (Reuters) – Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are restoring diplomatic ties and reopening their embassies, two officials said, shattering more than two years of efforts to end the Arab boycott of Doha. Then the Gulf Arab bloc allied with the West.
“Currently, the two countries are in the process of initiating diplomatic relations, which includes the reopening of embassies,” an Emirati official said in a statement in response to questions from Reuters.
A Gulf official said the embassy was expected to reopen by mid-June with a new ambassador in place. A third source said diplomatic relations would be fully restored within weeks.
The revival of ties comes as Iran and Saudi Arabia push for rapprochement in the wider region, agreeing last month to rebuild ties after years of hostility that threatened instability in the Gulf and sparked war in Yemen.
In mid-2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed all ties with Qatar over allegations it supported terrorism, referred to Islamic groups and courted Iran, charges Doha has denied.
Riyadh and Cairo are the first to reappoint ambassadors to Doha in 2021 after a Saudi-led deal ended the dispute, while Bahrain last week. Announce It will restore diplomatic relations.
All countries except Bahrain have resumed trade and travel links with Qatar in early 2021, when the UAE suggestion Restoring diplomatic relations will take time.
Relations between the UAE and Qatar warmed last year with face-to-face talks between leaders of the two countries.
“The UAE’s foreign policy is mainly focused on building bridges, economic cooperation and regional de-escalation,” said the UAE official, who did not want to be named.
Qatari and UAE officials agreed to restore diplomatic ties late last month and Abu Dhabi had informed Doha of its envoy, another Gulf official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. Qatar has yet to do so, the official added.
Qatar’s foreign ministry declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
Workers are laying new walkways outside the UAE embassy-consulate this week in the Qatari capital Doha, where what appears to be a garden has recently been planted with palm trees. Across the street, another UAE embassy building appeared to be abandoned, its garden overgrown with weeds and its upper windows open.
Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha, Ghaida Ghantous in Dubai and Aziz El Yaakoubi in Riyadh; Writing by Andrew Mills; Editing by Robert Bersell
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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