Qatar and Jordan hint at restoring full diplomatic relations

Qatar's eagerness to provide financial assistance to Jordan signals warming ties between the two countries and could see full diplomatic relations restored.

MENA

3 min read

The New Arab

17 June, 2018

Qatari ministers met with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday [Twitter/QNA]

Full diplomatic relations between Qatar and Jordan could soon be restored, as sources close to political decision-making circles in Amman revealed that an "imminent sovereign decision will be issued pointing to the return of diplomatic relations" between Jordan and Qatar the two countries.

The news comes shortly after the deputy Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, visited Amman and offered economic support, as well as ten thousand job opportunities in Doha for young Jordanians.

Qatar on Wednesday announced that it would provide 10,000 jobs for Jordanians in the Gulf state, in addition to a package of investments in infrastructure projects in the crisis-hit state valued at $500 million.

The assistance was announced during a meeting between Jordan's King Abdullah and the Qatari deputy prime minister, a Royal Court statement said.

During the talks held at al-Husseiniya Palace in Amman, the deputy premier conveyed greetings of Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to the king, in a meeting described by Jordanian sources as very cordial, according to Arabi 21 website.

Regional developments were also on the agenda, with both stressing the importance of increasing efforts to fight terrorism.

Jordanian analysts said that "the hosting of the Qatari foreign minister and accepting Qatari assistance shows that there is a decision to restore water to its streams".

"Qatari assistance was clear, direct and much better than the Saudi and UAE assistance, which was approved at the recent Mecca summit," said a Jordanian official, speaking on condition of anonymity to Arabi 21.

The official said the Kuwaiti aid package "reflects Kuwait's keenness to stabilise Jordan", but did not provide any information on the value of Kuwaiti aid.

"Saudi and UAE assistance has been substandard and without hope, and until now we do not know when it will arrive and how it will be distributed," the Jordanian official said.

In June last year Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt abruptly severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and Iran. Doha categorically denies the claims.

The four countries expelled Qataris, and the country's only land border with Saudi Arabia has been closed for the past year. Jordan similarly expelled Qatar's ambassador to the kingdom.

The Saudi-led bloc have demanded Doha accepts a list of 13 conditions, including shutting Al Jazeera and The New Arab, to open a dialogue to resolve the conflict.

Mediation efforts, mainly led by the emir of fellow Gulf state Kuwait, have so far failed to break the deadlock.

While the crisis has shaken the politics of the region, it has also had serious impact on the lives of ordinary civilians on the ground.

A report published last week found, said the blockade had separated families, disrupted imports, including medical resources and construction materials, among other obstacles for Qatar.

In January, the UN's human rights office accused the four countries of orchestrating a hate campaign against Qatar, which included threats to kill the country's emir.