Fez- King Mohammed VI on Sunday held a phone conversation with Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. The conversation comes few days after Sheikh Abullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior paid a visit to Morocco.
According to Qatar News Agency (QANA), during the phone call “the Emir and the Moroccan monarch discussed bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, matters of mutual concern and reviewed regional and international developments”.
This phone call comes against the backdrop of an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between the State of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, after the three countries decided to withdraw their Ambassador from Doha in recent weeks. This is first time in the history of the Gulf Cooperation Council (a grouping that includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman) that a crisis of such a nature occurs between its members.
The three countries blame Doha for its alleged support for the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Jazeera channel’s coverage of Egypt, since former President Mohammed Morsi was toppled in July 2013.
Among all other Arab countries, Morocco is the only Arab country that has excellent relations with all the members of the GCC, including the State of Kuwait and Oman. Will this status enable King Mohammed VI to play a mediation role and ease tension between the State of Qatar and its neighboring countries? Time will tell.