France appoints envoy to mediate between Qatar, Gulf states

France’s foreign ministry on says it has appointed its former ambassador to Saudi Arabia as a special envoy to help Paris to mediate in the rift between Qatar and Gulf states.

Kuwait’s Emir, Sabah al-Jaber has led mediation efforts to resolve the row, which began in early June when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut political and trade ties with Qatar.

France, which has close ties with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates while also being a major arms supplier to Qatar and a key ally of Saudi Arabia, has been relatively discreet on the crisis, largely sticking to calls for calm.

“I confirm that Bertrand Besancenot, diplomatic advisor to the government, will soon go to the region to evaluate the situation and the best ways to support the mediation and appease tensions between Qatar and its neighbours,” Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Agnes Romatet-Espagne, said in a daily briefing.

Qatar’s neighbours accuse it of supporting regional foe Iran and Islamists across the region, a charge Doha denies.