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Doha: A series of meetings between Qatari and Saudi royals in Doha over the past three days may have ended the deadlock over a number of business projects of regional interest and could open a new chapter in industrial and commercial relations between the neighbours.
After six years of strained relations that hindered commercial, industrial and energy cooperation between the two Gulf states, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have tried to mend ties and build on issues of common interest, Qatar's Prime minister said here on Tuesday night.
Shaikh Hamad's remarks came as Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz was in Qatar on an official visit.
The talks may pave the way for a fresh start to negotiations over Qatar's gas exports to Kuwait, a planned bridge linking Qatar and the UAE, and other projects which had been suspended amid tense relations between the two states, Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jabor Al Thani, Qatari premier and foreign minister, told Saudi reporters here.
"Saudi Arabia is a backbone for the Gulf Cooperation Council. We have considered the need to build upon the positive aspects [of bilateral relations] and develop them," Qatar News Agency reported.
Asked to comment on Qatar's exports of gas to Kuwait through Saudi territory, the Prime Minister said: "We have not discussed such a topic in detail. It is an economic issue and it will be discussed between the concerned parties in the two countries at the appropriate time. However a project of this kind would serve both countries," he was reported as saying.
Shaikh Hamad also touched on the proposed causeway linking Qatar and the UAE that would cross Saudi territory.
"This topic was raised and under consideration, but we have not discussed it in detail," QNA said.
Referring to the common currency, he said it is time the GCC had a unified currency that would help boost the Gulf economies.
The Prime Minister also commented on Qatar's commercial ties with Israel and possible exports of Qatari gas to the country, which has had a commercial office in Doha since 1996.
"The Israeli office was set up after the Madrid accords. Qatar has acted in the interests of the peace process when initiated."
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