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GULF IN REVIEW

6 - 11 September 2020

by

Arnold Koka

Kingdom of Bahrain

Monday, 7 September—Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, praised British efforts to ensure security and stability in the region and lauded the British-Bahraini relations, during separate meetings with the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, and with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Dominic Raab, in Manama.

 

Wednesday, 9 September—Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in Paris. They discussed French-Bahraini cooperation and ways to enhance it in several areas, as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

 

Wednesday, 9 September—The Ministerial Committee of the Arab League, representing Foreign Ministries of Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, released a statement condemning Turkey’s interference in Arab countries’ internal affairs, particularly in Libya, Syria and Iraq, as a threat to international security. The Committee called for the withdrawal of Turkish military presence from Arab countries, calling it a violation of international law.

State of Kuwait

Thursday, 10 September—The Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), dispatched 100 tonnes of emergency aid supplies to Beirut with food and medical supplies to assist the country dealing with the effects of the port explosion in early August, which killed 170 people and injured over 6,000.

 

Thursday, 10 September—Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister, Khaled Al-Jarallah, discussed Kuwaiti-Indian relations as well as regional and international developments with Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, Sibi George.


Sultanate of Oman

Tuesday, 8 September—During his visit to the Sultanate, the United Kingdom’s (UK) State Secretary for Defence, Ben Wallace, discussed bilateral relations, cooperation in the defence sector and in strengthening regional peace and stability with Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi, and with Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs, Shihab bin Tarik bin Taimour Al-Said.

 

Tuesday, 8 September—Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister, Fahad bin Mahmoud Al-Said, held a phone call with the Palestinian Authority’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Shtayyeh, reiterating the Sultanate’s continued support for the Palestinian cause and cooperation with other Arab states towards establishment of an independent state to ensure regional peace.

 

Wednesday, 9 September—Oman’s Sultan, Haitham bin Tarik Al-Said, held a phone call with the United States’ (US) President, Donald Trump, discussing the UAE-Israel normalisation deal, the Middle East Peace Plan, and ways to strengthen regional security and economic relations. Oman’s Sultan highlighted his country’s interest in exploring new sectors for cooperation.

State of Qatar

Thursday, 10 September—Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement announcing that the country will host peace talks between Afghanistan’s government and the Taliban, starting from 12 September 2020.

 

Thursday, 10 September—Qatar and South Sudan established diplomatic relations. The document was signed by the two countries’ Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York. They agreed to strengthen ties and collaboration in various fields, notably economy, politics, commerce and culture.


Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Sunday, 6 September—Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud discussed the Palestinian issue and the G20 agenda in a phone call with the United States’ (US) President, Donald Trump, reiterating the Kingdom’s commitment to the establishment of a self-determined, independent Palestinian state. They also discussed the recent developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic and ways to curb its economic effects.

 

Monday, 7 September—Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud discussed Saudi-French bilateral relations in a phone call with France’s President, Emmanuel Macron. They reviewed the Kingdom’s G20 chairmanship ahead of the November summit and regional and international developments, with a focus on the spread of the COVID-19 and its effects. King Salman later held talks also with other G20 leaders, including Russian President, Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, Chinese President, Xi Jinping, and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

 

Tuesday, 8 September—Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud, and Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Taro Kono, discussed defence cooperation and maritime security, as well as regional developments and their impact on security issues.

 

Thursday, 10 September—Saudi Arabia was elected a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee for the first time.


United Arab Emirates

Sunday, 6 September—The UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, discussed the normalisation deal with Israel and its regional impact in a phone call with British Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, who welcomed the agreement. The two officials also discussed regional stability and climate change.

 

Tuesday, 8 September—The UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan reviewed cooperation with Hungary in the economic, health and education sectors, in a meeting with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto. They also reviewed the impact of the UAE-Israel normalisation on regional stability and the growing partnership between Hungary and the UAE.

 

Thursday, 10 September—The UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, discussed bilateral cooperation in a phone call. The two ministers reviewed regional issues of mutual concern, particularly the Libyan file and the significance of the UAE-Israel normalisation deal for regional security.

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