UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash said on Thursday that “practical measures” could be introduced to restore travel and trade links with Qatar within a week.
He said "we expect to move very quickly on other issues", including the reopening of embassies and consulates.
The UAE and fellow GCC countries Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, along with Egypt, cut ties with Doha in 2017.
“The UAE is behind this deal, positive about re-establishing relations with Qatar within the GCC context. We want to do this faster rather than slower," Dr Gargash said.
A declaration signed during the 41st GCC summit in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday was described by Dr Gargash as a strategic document.
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Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim, Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahad bin Mahmoud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Bahrain Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, Secretary General of the GCC. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia -
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signing the Al Ula statement during this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai signing the Al Ula statement during this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia -
A general view of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 41st Summit, is pictured via screen at the media centre in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri -
U.S. White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner attends the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY -
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia -
Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim at the summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia -
Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, Secretary General of the GCC at the summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia -
Oman Deputy Prime Minister Fahad bin Mahmoud signing the Al Ula statement during this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia -
Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa signing the Al Ula statement during this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia -
Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah signing the Al Ula statement during this summit. Courtesy Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Saudi Arabia -
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef Falah Al Hajraf attends a press conference at the Gulf Cooperation Council's 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. Reuters -
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef Falah Al Hajraf. AP Photo -
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud holds a press conferece. AFP -
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud holds a press conferece. AFP -
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud holds a press conferece. AFP -
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef Falah al-Hajraf gestures during a news conference at the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri -
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef Falah al-Hajraf and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud speak during a joint news conference at the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Reuters -
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 41st Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia January 5, 2021. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY
Dr Gargash said there was now a new chapter in relations and he would want to “bring back momentum in the GCC sails”.
That momentum is expected to be largely based on economic collaboration and investment.
He said that despite some differences in approach, “there is an overall agreement on issues of security and stability”.
Dr Gargash said Gulf countries appreciated the role of the US in helping to resolve the situation.
US president-elect Joe Biden and his team were not involved in talks, but Dr Gargash said “a lot of the foreign policy team of the Biden administration know the region very well, we know their views”.
When asked about a Turkish military presence in Qatar, Dr Gargash said: “Our view on the Turkish presence is similar to our view of the Iranian presence in the Arab world … we want to see Turkey as a partner to all and as a country that respects Arab sovereignty and Arab interests in general.
"We want to see a relationship with Turkey on par, of non-interference, on mutually beneficial things.”
He said that was "a collective view within most Arab countries".
Dr Gargash also said the UAE's outlook towards regional crises in general was one of diplomatic solutions.
Turning to the issue of the Iran crisis, he said it was important to reduce tensions.
"We recognise that we have serious issues with Iran, but they need to be dealt with through de-escalation, through diplomacy and politics," he said.
There is no question that rebuilding ties and confidence will not be easy, Dr Gargash said.
“We recognise that any crisis will leave its repercussions and dealing with repercussions will take some time," he said.
"Every crisis has to come to an end. I am glad this one is coming to an end. But any resolution will really depend on transparency and a constructive approach to move forward."
Dr Gargash explained how the UAE mustered a world-leading response to the Covid-19 crisis, being one of the first countries to realise the importance of mass testing, tracking and tracing.
"Covid was a very difficult challenge towards our capacity as a state and I think we are doing very well, in terms of tackling it in the early stages, choosing testing and scientific methods as our guideline", he said.
"We have been one of the more successful countries globally. And I see today in terms of per capita, we are just behind Israel in terms of vaccination. Our intention is to surpass Israel in terms of the percentage of the population vaccinated."
Speaking of the long-term success of the GCC as an international political and trading bloc, Dr Gargash was hopeful it would return to playing a strong role on the world stage.
"The GCC has been one of the most successful Arab regional groupings. So I expect on the diplomatic front it will go back to its vitality," he said.
"On the security and political front, there will be a variance of views, which has been the history of the GCC since 1981. I expect that on the common market front, on the investment front, there will be full winds blowing into that sail."
