French President Macron Calls for Lifting Of Qatar Sanctions

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday urged the lifting of a Saudi-led embargo on Qatar in effect since June.

Macron is calling for “the embargo measures affecting the people of Qatar, in particular families and students, to be lifted as quickly as possible,” the president’s office said in a statement after he met with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Macron “expressed his concern over the tensions that threaten regional stability, undermining the political resolution of crises and our collective fight against terrorism,” the statement said.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, accusing Doha of supporting extremism, cut diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5.

Riyadh and its supporters severed air and sea links with Qatar — which denied the allegations against it — and closed its only land border, cutting off vital routes for imports including food.

Paris backs diplomatic efforts led by Kuwait, a key mediator in the crisis, Macron’s office said.

AFP