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France wants active role in supporting Kuwait mediation on Gulf crisis

PARIS, Sept 15 (KUNA) -- France wants to play an active role in supporting Kuwaiti mediation to find a quick solution to the Gulf crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday.
In a statement issued by the Elysee Palace after Macron held talks with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Paris, which highlighted on a number of issues of common concern, including the latest developments in the Gulf crisis and efforts to resolve it.
"France wants to play an active role in supporting Kuwait's mediation efforts and to put a swift end to this situation," President Macron quoted as saying.
Qatari Amir arrived in Paris earlier as part of his European tour to discuss developments in the crisis between Qatar on one hand and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt on the other.
Prior to the visit, the senior advisor to the French President for Foreign Policy Philippe Etienne said in a statement to KUNA that France is active in supporting Kuwaiti mediation and that Paris is in direct contact with all parties.
"We are in direct contact with all related countries," Etienne said, adding that his country was in regular contact with the four countries to find a solution to the crisis.
However, during the presidential talks, the French president expressed concern about "tensions threatening regional stability," the statement said.
Such tensions would impede the political solution to many crises and the effectiveness of a collective war on terrorism.
He stressed that France wants friendly and close relations with all the parties to the crisis.
The two leaders held in-depth discussions on mechanisms to assist in the war against "terrorism", where Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad presented his country's efforts in this regard.
The two sides also agreed to work together to prepare for a major international conference to be held in France next year to combat the financing of terrorism. (end) jk.mb