(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) PARIS, June 12 (KUNA) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday spoke by phone with two important figures in the Gulf, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed, and President Hassan Rohani of Iran, Macron's office announced.
The French leader and Sheikh Mohammad carried out "a review of regional and bilateral issues" and also broached a forthcoming humanitarian conference on Yemen to be co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia at the end of June.
The two leaders discussed the political and military situation currently in Yemen and Macron urged all parties to ensure the protection of civilians during the current conflict.
France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting the Paris conference and the Coalition countries, led by Riyadh, have already committed USD two billion for humanitarian aid.
Macron and Sheikh Mohammad also broached "their close cooperation on the Libyan file," particularly relative to the organisation by France of a conference of the major Libyan parties in Paris on May 29 last.
The Iranian nuclear question and the Syrian conflict were also discussed by the two leaders and they addressed plans for Sheikh Mohammad to visit France next autumn.
In a separate call with the Iranian leader, the French President "recalled the willingness of France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China to continue to implement the Vienna accord on the Iranian nuclear (sector), in all its dimensions." The US has pulled out of the agreement, reached in 2015, and is threatening sanctions against any company or country that continues to trade with Iran as part of the accord.
The French President informed Rohani of the efforts underway by the nations that want the nuclear accord to be maintained and he also proposed a ministerial-level meeting of the Joint Commission on the Vienna accord, a meeting that would take place "in the coming weeks." The French leader also reiterated his proposed "broadened agreement" that would help settle regional crisis situations and "re-establish confidence." He specifically mentioned the need for Syria to recover its sovereignty through a new constitution and the organisation of free and inclusive elections, Macron's office indicated.
Macron has urged an expanded agreement with Iran that would go beyond the 2025 expiry date of the current accord and he also wants talks with Tehran on its ballistic missile programme and Iranian "destabilising" activity in a number of countries in the region. (end) jk.bs

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