Saudi King Abdullah called on Egypt on Wednesday to back an agreement between Gulf Arab states that ended an eight-month dispute over Qatar's backing of Islamist movements and its promotion of Arab Spring revolts, according to Reuters.
In a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency, the king appealed to the leadership and people of Egypt to "work with us for the success of this step in the march of Arab solidarity". Egypt's ambassador to Qatar was recalled to Cairo earlier this year over political tension between the two states.
Relations between Cairo and Doha have deteriorated since President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, then the army chief, removed Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood from power following mass protests against his rule last year.
An unannounced meeting between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders ended Sunday evening after resolving a long-standing schism with fellow member-state Qatar, Al Arabiya News Channel’s correspondent reported.
A result of the meeting, the Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini ambassadors to Qatar will return to their posts in Doha following eight months of tense relations.
A day after the extraordinary meeting, Saudi King Abdullah Abdulaziz received a telephone call from the Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani, the Saudi News Agency (SPA) reported. The two leaders discussed the two countries’ relations and the latest development in the region.
Meanwhile, the Gulf assembly on Sunday evening reached an agreement that “promises the opening of a new page that will present a strong base, especially in light of the sensitive circumstances the region is undergoing,” the GCC said in a joint statement.
“Based on this, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have decided to return their ambassadors to Doha,” it said.
Additionally, the annual GCC summit was also confirmed to take place on Dec. 9 to Dec. 10 in Doha, the correspondent reported.