Delegations from Qatar and Egypt met in Kuwait on Tuesday for the first time since the signing of an agreement last month to revitalise regional diplomacy, both countries' foreign ministries said.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt agreed in January at a summit in Al Ula in Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Doha, which were suspended in 2017. At the time, Qatar stood accused of supporting organisations linked to terrorism.
Qatar on Monday similarly met a UAE delegation in Kuwait for their first bilateral talks.
"The two sides welcomed measures each has taken since signing the Al Ula statement as a step on the path of building confidence between the two fraternal countries," the statement said.
Since the agreement, air and travel links have resumed between Qatar and the four countries.
Each Arab nation is to arrange bilateral talks with Qatar to resolve individual issues.
Bahrain's foreign ministry said last month it had written to Doha, inviting them to send a delegation to Bahrain to start bilateral talks and implement the Al Ula agreement.
Qatar has not yet responded, Bahrain's foreign minister said.
Washington has strong ties with all the states involved, including Qatar, home of the largest US military base in the region, and considered the rift a threat to efforts to contain Iran. As such, Washington has pushed for a united Gulf front.
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
