(Bloomberg) — In a sign of potential breakthrough in relations between the two nations, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani received a rare telephone call from Bahrain’s Prime Minister for the first time since three of Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar almost two years ago.
The Emir received a phone call from Bahrain’s Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa where both exchanged the holy month of Ramadan’s greetings, according to a statement carried on Qatar’s News Agency website.
Bahrain’s cabinet affairs minister said late Monday that the telephone call “does not represent the official position of the Kingdom of Bahrain and will not affect its commitments with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt on the implementation of what Qatar has committed to in 2013 and 2014 and the just demands that had followed,” state-run BNA reported.
Despite economic pressure by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, Qatar — the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas — has not been forced to accept ultimatums, including calls to suppress the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement. Instead, the blockade has arguably made Qatar more independent as it weathered the embargo with the help of its deep pockets and alternative trade routes.
