KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr Abdullatif Al-Zayani at Bayan Palace yesterday. — KUNA

DOHA: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday at Bayan Palace Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr Abdullatif Al-Zayani. During the meeting, Zayani briefed HH the Amir on ongoing preparations for the 38th GCC Summit to be held in Kuwait on Dec 5-6.

Qatar's foreign minister said yesterday Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is expected to attend the annual summit, despite a deep dispute within the group. "The ministerial meeting will be attended tomorrow, and (for) the summit, God willing, the Emir," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said in a speech. He added that Qatar had not yet seen the summit agenda, but the current crisis would be discussed at the meeting. "It is important that the GCC system remains alive," said the minister. The emir received an invitation from Kuwait at the end of last month to attend the GCC summit.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said yesterday that Kuwait has completed preparations for the hosting of the summit. During his attendance of the United Arab Emirates' 46th National Day celebrations at the country's embassy in Kuwait, he said "Kuwait will welcome GCC leaders on Tuesday and Wednesday".

The rift between the six-nation GCC members Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, on one side, and Qatar on the other had put this year's annual meeting in doubt. There was no immediate comment from other Gulf nations on the Qatari announcement. The dispute, which erupted in June, revolves around allegations by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt that Qatar supports terrorism, a charge Doha denies.

The four countries have severed diplomatic, trade and travel links with Doha, in a move Qatar says is inflicting collective punishment on its people but its opponents call a legitimate response to its policies. Qatar says the four countries are trying to force Doha to fall in line with their own foreign policy. - Agencies