Kuwait’s ruler will travel to Washington on Monday for a working visit and hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, the state news agency KUNA announced on Sunday.

The White House said in a statement the leaders would discuss trade, investment and security cooperation in their Sept. 5 meeting.

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has led mediation efforts to resolve a year-long dispute between Gulf Arab neighbours after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic, trade and transport ties with Qatar.

The four countries accuse Doha of supporting terrorism and cosying up to regional foe Iran. Doha denies those charges and says the boycott is an attempt to impinge on its sovereignty.

Trump publicly sided with the Saudis and Emiratis early on in the crisis but then began pushing for a resolution to restore Gulf unity and maintain a united front against Iran.

Reuters reported in July that the administration was quietly pushing ahead with a bid to create a new security and political alliance with six Gulf Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, in part to counter Iran’s expansion in the region, citing U.S. and Arab officials.

The administration’s hope is that the effort, tentatively known as the Middle East Strategic Alliance, might be discussed at a summit provisionally scheduled for Washington on Oct. 12-13, the sources said, though the Qatar rift could present a big obstacle.

It was a sight that hasn’t been seen in this suburb of Damascus in five years-Orthodox Christians celebrating Palm Sunday.

The day is part of a series of observances that culminate in the celebration of the Christian holiday of Easter.

Christians make up 11 nearly percent of Syria’s population.

The largest Christian denomination in Syria is the Greek Orthodox Church, which uses a different religious calendar than the Roman Catholic church.

Because of the war few worshipers have been able to celebrate religious moments like Palm Sunday.

But a temporary truce introduced over a month ago has greatly reduced violence.

Worshippers in some areas took advantage of the lull to gather in churches and celebrate.

The war has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world’s worst refugee crisis and allowed for the rise of the Islamic State group.

But on this day, these Christians in the Damascus suburb of Jobar gathered to light candles and pray, and hope that next year, the area will be peaceful enough that they’ll be able to do it again.