Qatar ruler receives message from Saudi crown prince

DOHA, Qatar

Amid continued reconciliation efforts, Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, received a message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Monday.

The letter focused on ways to strengthen bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments, the emir’s office, the Amiri Diwan, said in a statement.

The message was delivered by Saudi Ambassador Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan during his meeting with the Qatari ruler.

Qatari-Saudi relations have improved since the two countries signed a reconciliation agreement earlier this year to end their political rift.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt severed diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar in 2017, accusing Doha of supporting terrorist groups, an accusation vehemently denied by the peninsular Arab kingdom.

*Writing by Bassel Barakat in Ankara