Qatar sends negative signals ahead of upcoming GCC summit

Qatar sends negative signals ahead of upcoming GCC summit

MANAMA--A preparatory meeting for the 41st Gulf summit carried negative signals about the possibility of achieving progress towards ending Qatar's dispute with three boycotting Gulf neighbours.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, in addition to Egypt, accuse Qatar of threatening regional stability and supporting extremism through Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Doha denies the accusations and says the boycott aims to undermine its sovereignty.

Qatar on Sunday downgraded its representation in a virtual meeting of foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, held in the Bahraini capital Manama ahead of a regional summit next month.

Gulf affairs analysts said they believe Qatar's move is a prelude to downgrading the level of its participation in the upcoming Gulf summit.

While the Manama meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman al-Thani was absent, and Doha was represented by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan al-Muraikhi.

Qatar also deliberately maintained the tense atmosphere during the Manama meeting by pressing ahead with its negative media coverage and offensive reports about the four boycotting countries.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed their relations with Qatar in