US Secretary of State arrives in Doha

US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, has arrived in Doha today to find a way out of the diplomatic crises in the region which has seen Qatar blockaded by four of its neighbours since 5 June.

Tillerson met with the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who has been mediating between Doha and its Gulf neighbours, yesterday.

Sheikh Sabah is reported to have told Tillerson about the seriousness of the crises saying: “We are trying to resolve an issue that concerns not just us but the whole world.”

During his visit to Qatar, the senior US official will meet with Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, before holding talks with Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Read: US, UK and Kuwait call sides to swiftly end Qatar crisis

No immediate breakthrough is expected during the talks, US officials said, buts it’s understood that Tillerson will explore possibilities for sparking negotiations.

The Guardian reported Tillerson’s views that “Saudi Arabia’s pre-conditions for restoring diplomatic and economic relations with Qatar are not realistic, even if some elements could form the basis for an eventual deal.”

#QatarGate

It also confirmed reports that the US and the G20 countries are “losing patience” with the GCC countries as a whole because of their financing of terrorist groups. “This is a two-way street,” Tillerson’s communications adviser, RC Hammond, is reported to have said and “there are no clean hands.”

It’s not clear which one of the 13 demands Saudi Arabia set on Qatar for lifting the blockade is deemed unrealistic, but Tillerson’s office believes concessions would need to be made by Saudi, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain.