(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Agencies
Washington: US President Donald Trump has offered to mediate in the current Gulf crisis between Qatar and three of its neighbours, saying 'we will be most successful in fighting against terrorism with a united Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The Emir of Kuwait, H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, yesterday expressed his hope that resolution could be reached for the current ongoing Gulf crisis reiterating his determination to resolve the crisis. 'I am optimistic that the solution will come in the very near future, he said. 'The hope has not ended yet, said Sheikh Sabah.
Speaking at a joint press conference held yesterday at the White House with President Donald Trump, Sheikh Sabah said he believed negotiations were still possible.
Sheikh Sabah said he was confident that feuding Arab countries would overcome their differences as Qatar was ready to negotiate and he expressed confidence in the 'wisdom of our brothers in the Gulf.
A response he had received by Qatar revealed that Doha would not accept the 13 demands, he said, adding that the solution was for all sides to sit down at one negotiating table, and outline 'points that may harm the region and the interests of our friends.
On the demands, he said that 'any matters that affect sovereignty are unacceptable to us, underlining that Kuwait guarantees it would put pressure on Qatar to prevent its exit from the GCC, Kuwait news agency (KUNA) reported.
"We know that not all of these 13 demands are acceptable," Sheikh Sabah said, referring specifically to issues that affected Qatari sovereignty.
Trump offered to mediate the crisis and said he believed the dispute could be solved 'fairly easily.
Trump said: 'I would be willing to be the mediator, 'I would be willing to do so, and I think you'd have a deal worked out very quickly, Trump said. 'I think it's something that's going to get solved fairly easily.
President Trump hailed efforts by Sheikh Sabah to settle the Gulf crisis and applauded Kuwait's 'critical contributions to regional stability.
Trump said he appreciated the Emir's thus-far efforts to end the dispute between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt.
Trump said all the countries involved — members of the Gulf Cooperation Council — are 'essential partners with the United States in efforts to crack down on extremism, including the fight against Islamic State group.
'We will be most successful with a united GCC, he said. 'We will send a strong message to both terrorist organisations and regional aggressors that they cannot win.
Speaking about the long-stalled Palestinian-Israeli-peace talks, Trump said there is a 'chance for a Middle East peace settlement, long one of the most elusive goals of US diplomacy.
'I think we have a chance of doing it, he told reporters during the press conference. 'We're going to give it our best, Trump added, noting that both sides wanted peace and that the US had 'tremendous talent working on the problem.
President Trump and Sheikh Sabah held a round of official talks dealing with the long-standing relations between the two countries and means to develop ties.
According to KUNA, the two sides exchanged views on these topics and stressed the need for the countries involved in the Gulf feud to discard their differences.
Trump said in remarks before the session that he would discuss with Sheikh Sabah, the Gulf crisis and means to resolve it, considering the State of Kuwait to be a 'great partner for the United States in dealing with regional issues.
Sheikh Sabah, in his remarks to reporters, expressed hope that the bilateral talks with the US President would come with 'positive results.
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