Saudi FM in Egypt amid tension with Qatar

CAIRO – 4 June 2017: Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir arrived in Cairo Sunday for talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, on regional issues of mutual concern. His visit comes amid strained relations between Qatar and other Arab and Gulf states.

Shoukry and Jubeir will meet after breaking their fast at the headquarters of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in downtown Cairo, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zaid in a statement.

On May 24, a Qatari news agency published alleged remarks by Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani that his country has “warm relations with Israel.” He also alleged that Hamas is the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, asserting that Iran is part of the Islamic world and has heavy political weight in the region.

An official from the Qatari ruling family said the news agency had been hacked.

In the statement, Tamim also directed a message to four Arab countries - Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain - that “being hostile to Iran is unwise.”

The Emir’s alleged remarks came following the American-Arab-Islamic summit which was held in Riyadh between Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, U.S. President Donald Trump, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

The four leaders announced their integrated efforts to fight terrorism in the region and the world, agreeing on confronting the growing Iranian threat in the Middle East; they inaugurated “Aa’tidal” (moderation) Center to monitor and combat extremism.