Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is visiting Guinea, Senegal and Mauritania from June 14 to 16. This visit will provide an initial opportunity to promote France's priorities in Africa: climate, economic development and security.

In Guinea, Jean-Yves Le Drian will be received by President Alpha Condé with whom he will take stock of our bilateral relations. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss with the Guinean leader—currently president of the African Union—regional issues and the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, notably through the African initiative on renewable energy.

The visit by the minister for Europe and foreign affairs to Senegal is taking place shortly after the meeting between President Macron and his Senegalese counterpart in Paris on June 12; the minister will meet with President Macky Sall to discuss key bilateral issues. He will take stock of our cooperation within the framework of the UN Security Council, of which Senegal is currently a member. He will also visit the offices of the regional express train project that will link Dakar with Diamniadio and will meet with the French firms involved in this project. Lastly, he will visit the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, the cybercrime unit and discuss several development initiatives sponsored by the Senegalese diaspora with the support of the French Development Agency.

In Mauritania, Jean-Yves Le Drian will meet with Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to discuss our cooperation, notably in the areas of security and development. He will visit the headquarters of the G5 Sahel. He will also sign a financing agreement for a maternal and newborn health project.

Qatar

Do you believe that the measures taken against Qatar by its neighbors are hurting the people?

As we said yesterday, our priority is easing tensions, and we continue to call on all the parties to make the necessary gestures to that end. We hope that no measures will be taken that harm local populations.

Syria

Are you afraid that the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and its neighbors will deepen disagreements between opposition groups in Syria and could stand in the way of a peace process? The cohesion of the opposition is necessary to the success of the negotiating process under the auspices of the UN, which we would like to see.

In May, the minister asked that all parties in Syria guarantee full, unconditional and unfettered humanitarian access to all populations that need it. What has France been doing since the beginning of the year with respect to humanitarian issues in Syria, and has expanding or reducing this assistance been considered at all?

Since the beginning of the crisis, France has worked to deliver humanitarian aid securely and without obstacles to all populations in need throughout Syria. We have worked continuously to this end within UN bodies, and particularly the Security Council.

France is also continuing its support for humanitarian actors, especially UN agencies, in their response to the needs of the Syrian people. France announced at the London conference in February 2016 that it would donate 200 million euros in response to the Syrian crisis for the period of 2016-2018. In 2016, nearly 90 million euros were allocated for that purpose. During the Brussels conference in April, France announced that 75 million euros in aid would be allocated in response to the crisis in 2017.

Several NGOs are reporting problems with Turkey when it comes to having access to populations in Syria, and especially in Raqqa. Has Paris raised this issue with Ankara?

The protection of civilians in Syria is a priority for France. We constantly demand safe, full, and unfettered humanitarian access to meet the needs of local populations.

We have raised this question in our ongoing dialogue with the Turkish authorities on all issues related to the liberation of Raqqa, a strategic priority.

Israel – Palestinian Territories

What's your response to the Israeli announcement on the approval of the construction of several thousand homes in the West Bank?

France's position is constant.

It condemns the approval by the Israeli authorities in the last few days of plans to build 3,000 homes in various West Bank settlements, bringing the number of new homes approved in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to almost 9,000 in 2017 alone.

While relaunching a political process requires an effort on the part of everyone, such decisions, which are illegal under international law, send a negative signal and undermine the prospects for achieving just and lasting peace.

Are you concerned that the Qatar crisis will have repercussions in the Gaza Strip?

France is following with concern the situation in Gaza, which, in the absence of a lasting political solution, is continuing to deteriorate.

It is attached to improving the situation in Gaza, especially on the humanitarian front.