(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday called on regional ally Egypt to back a reconciliation agreement reached between Gulf states and Qatar following months of tensions linked to last year's removal of Egyptian president Mohammed Mursi.
In his first public comments since reaching the accord with Qatar, King Abdullah asked that Egypt support the agreement, which he hailed as "a new page" in relations. "I appeal to the people and leadership of Egypt to seek with us the success of this step in the march of Arab solidarity," he said in remarks carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
King Abdullah said Saudi Arabia looked forward "to the start of a new phase of consensus" among Arab nations.
He voiced hope for "security and stability for our people amid these circumstances and challenges" facing the region.
He said his country fully supported Egypt in the Gulf agreement with Qatar. Details of the agreement, which also involved Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain, have not been made public.
King Abdullah said that his country was keen to resolve the dispute in the face of challenges facing Arab and Muslim nations.
The Saudi ambassador returned to Qatar on Tuesday.
The UAE and Egypt welcomed the Saudi call to back the agreement among the Gulf Arab states.
The UAE praised the statement which called for turning a new page to push the process of joint GCC and Arab action.
The UAE also expressed its full support to King Abdullah's pledge for collective GCC support and cooperation with Egypt and for the start of a new phase of unanimity and consensus among the brethren.
It welcomed King Abdullah's appeal to work for the success of the march towards Arab solidarity, especially in current circumstances and challenges that require all brethren to stand as one in the interest of the Arab nation. The UAE said that the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, as manifested in his statement, represents a clear approach in circumstances that require championing the nation's interest and joining hands to achieve stability and prosperity.
The office of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi issued a statement calling the king's appeal "a big step towards Arab solidarity".
"We look together to a new era that turns the page on the disputes of the past," it said.
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