French Foreign Minister on Gulf States visit to mediate crisis

Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], July 16 (ANI): French Foreign Minister Le Drian started his two-day visit to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates on Saturday in order to hear the positions of the states on the ongoing diplomatic row crisis as well as to offer France's contribution to the mediation efforts led by Kuwait. According to media reports, Le Drian said at the joint press conference with Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir on Saturday that France seeks to alleviate tensions between the Arab States and Qatar in order to create grounds for the dialogue. On his part, Al-Jubeir said at the press conference that Riyadh will pass to Paris a full dossier on Doha, which contains "all violations, committed by Qatar," according to the broadcaster. In June, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates broke off diplomatic relations and communication with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and the Muslim Brotherhood. Following the Gulf states' decision, the French Minister of Justice Francois Bayrou announced last month that Paris would suspend the fiscal benefits it had provided for Qatar since the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy. (ANI)