JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia and Qatar signed a landmark agreement on Saturday to demarcate their border. Interior Minister Prince Naif and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad ibn Jassim Al-Thani signed the accord in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency said.
The two GCC neighbors also decided to set up a joint council to strengthen their relations in political, security, financial, economic, commercial, investment, cultural, media and other areas, the agency said.
The accord follows the historic visit of Crown Prince Sultan to Doha last March that took Saudi-Qatari relations to new heights. It also came as a result of Sheikh Hamad’s talks with Prince Sultan and Prince Naif, SPA said.
An official statement issued on the occasion said the new Joint Coordination Council, to be co-chaired by Prince Sultan and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al-Thani, would include Prince Naif, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and State Minister Musaed Al-Aiban in addition to the ministers of finance, culture and information, and commerce and industry.
Separately, a joint statement said the council would increase political coordination and cooperation on all issues of mutual concern. It would also promote cooperation in energy, industry, communication, transportation, civil aviation and joint investment.
“Development of military and security cooperation is another major objective of the council,” the statement said, adding that it would also activate the role of private sector in boosting economic development.
Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), commended the Saudi-Qatari accord and said it would strengthen the “brotherly relations” between the two countries.
“The two steps — the agreement on demarcation of borders and setting up of a joint council — will take Saudi-Qatari relations to their highest level,” he said, adding that the accord would also contribute to bolstering the GCC.
