DOHA, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- French President Emmanuel Macron has renewed his backing to the Kuwaiti mediation efforts aiming to resolve the Gulf crisis.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Thursday, Macron expressed his hope that there would be a quick solution to the crisis.
He affirmed that the security and stability of the Gulf represents a priority to France.
Macron said that the first issue on the agenda of his visit to Doha is fighting terrorism, which is a major priority in the joint action between the two countries.
In this context, France and Qatar decided to sign a letter of intent and a roadmap to promote cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism, he noted.
France will organize an international conference due in April 2018 in the capital, he revealed.
Macron said today's talks discussed regional situations, mainly in Libya in order to restore stability and peace in that Arab country through efforts by UN Secretary General's special envoy Ghassan Salama.
Concerning US President Donald Trump's recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Macron said it is a unilateral decision taken by the United States, adding he doesn't agree on the move as it violates the international law and the UN Security Council resolutions.
He stressed that France would reaffirm its position at the Security Council that Jerusalem is a question related to international peace and that the solution should be through negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.
On the Iranian role in the region, the French leader affirmed the necessity of preserving the nuclear deal, stating that it is useful, although it doesn't resolve all problems.
It is imperative to hold a strategic dialogue with Iran as it is a regional power in the region, he stressed.
For his part, Sheikh Tamim emphasized that his country is paying much attention to combat terrorism and that much information circulated in the press that Qatar has links to terrorism is "false and incorrect".
Qatar has recently taken some measures to fight the funding of terrorism, he said.
He noted that Doha stands side by side with its sisterly countries in the region and friendly states all over the world in the face of terrorism as the Arab and Islamic countries are the first victim of this phenomenon.
Earlier today, Qatar and France signed a number of cooperative agreements and memos of understanding in the fields of combating terrorism, defense, education, culture, aviation, railways and transport.
Macron arrived in Doha earlier today on an official visit, the first one since he came to power last May. (end) nnd.tma.hm