Joint press release between the High Representative Federica Mogherini and Kuwait's Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah

"High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Kuwait's Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah met this afternoon to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation in the Gulf and the perspectives for overcoming current tensions.

The Minister of State shared the elements of the mediation that Kuwait has been undertaking. The High Representative, drawing on the discussion at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council, expressed the EU's full support for the efforts of His Highness the Emir of Kuwait to heal the rift in relations between some Gulf countries and reduce tension in the region as a whole. They discussed ways in which the EU can best support this work.

Both sides expect all parties involved to reduce tension and to engage urgently in a dialogue to resolve their differences. They reiterated the importance of the unity and stability of the Gulf, and agreed that a solution should be found within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in particular, emphasising that it is extremely important to avoid other regions being drawn into this dispute.

Both sides undertook to continue working in close cooperation for the swiftest possible resolution of the situation."