KUWAIT: Kuwait is turning into a political 'Mecca' this week, with high-profile Arab and foreign officials arriving and holding talks in light of mediating efforts led by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in a bid to solve the Gulf crisis.

Well-received on a global scale, His Highness the Amir's diplomatic initiative is seen as key to a more safe and stable Arabian Gulf region. Three out of the six Member State of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, in addition to Egypt, are in a political gridlock with Qatar; another GCC member; a rather sensitive situation that the region is not accustomed to.

In this context, Boris Johnson, the UK's foreign minister arrived to Kuwait yesterday, while his US counterpart Rex Tillerson is expected to be in Kuwait tomorrow to discuss developments of the situation and means to contain it. Johnson, who embarked on his Gulf tour yesterday in Saudi Arabia, stressed that his visit is mainly to provide support for the Kuwaiti mediation efforts and building on Premier Theresa May's statement that the Gulf's security is one of Britain's as well.

The four Arab countries are accusing Qatar of backing terrorist groups, expressing at the same time distress over Doha's 'negative' response to demands they had put forth as a condition for lifting economic and travel sanctions on the Gulf country.

Within the framework of the mediation efforts, His Highness the Amir had paid visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, where he held constructive talks with leaders there, who in turn, warmly welcomed the initiative.

On July 5, Riyadh, Manama, Abu Dhabi, and Cairo received the response to their demands from Doha through Kuwait According to a joint statement by the group, the four countries confirmed that they have received the response after the additional 48-hours extension requested by His Highness the Amir. - KUNA