French FM concludes Gulf tour to mediate in Qatari crisis

PARIS - 17 July 2017: French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian has wrapped up a two-day Gulf tour, which included Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to support mediation efforts between Doha and boycotting countries.

Le Drian met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah during the tour.

The French minister called for deescalation, as well as holding constructive negotiations to end the crisis within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), confirming his country's support for the Kuwaiti initiative to mediate and resolve the crisis, according to a statement by the French Foreign Affairs Ministry.

He stressed that counter-terrorism efforts and funding terrorist groups are among France's top priorities, during his meetings with Gulf top officials.

His two-day Gulf tour comes after his US counterpart Rex Tillerson made a four-day visit to a number of Gulf countries to mediate and ease the tensions in the crisis.

On June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates severed ties with Qatar and imposed sanctions on the oil rich Gulf country, accusing Doha of supporting and funding terrorism