Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, met yesterday with Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen Martin Griffiths.

The minister reaffirmed France's full support for Martin Griffiths's mediation efforts, as well as for the United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement. He underscored the need for the parties to immediately comply with their commitments by redeploying forces in the port city of Hudaydah and by guaranteeing immediate, safe, full and unrestricted access for humanitarian personnel, as well as their protection, in accordance with the Stockholm Agreement of December 13, 2018.

Jean-Yves Le Drian reaffirmed the urgent need to continue dialogue with a view toward finding an inclusive political solution - the only way to preserve the country's territorial integrity, restore peace and security over the long term, put an end to the suffering of the Yemeni people, and ensure the stability of the peninsula.

The minister indicated that France would continue to mobilize all its resources in support of this mediation, in coordination with its allies and all of its interlocutors in the region.

Libya

Why has France blocked an EU communiqué calling on General Haftar to halt the offensive launched in order to take Tripoli?

This is a false allegation. France called for this text to be strengthened with respect to three points that are critical to the EU: the situation of migrants, the involvement in the fighting of certain groups and individuals under UN sanctions due to terrorist activities, and lastly, the need to find a political solution under UN authority in accordance with the commitments made by the Libyan parties in Paris, Palermo and Abu Dhabi.

Iran

More than two months after the announcement and creation of INSTEX to facilitate trade with Iran, do you have an idea when this mechanism will be operational?

France, Germany and the United Kingdom created the INSTEX financial compensation mechanism, which is an innovative, unprecedented and Europe-wide mechanism.

Our three countries have initiated the technical and legal work needed to implement the mechanism, in coordination with the European External Action Service. This work is continuing with a view toward ensuring its implementation as swiftly as possible.

Iran, which has just legally established a mirror-image version of the mechanism, must also carry out work to make the mechanism operational. In-depth discussions with Tehran have been initiated on the conditions that will allow the two structures to operate in a way that is compatible and is in conformity with international financial standards.

Israel

What are you expecting from the re-election of Benjamin Netanyahu following the Israeli elections, notably with respect to settlement activity?

With respect to the Israeli elections, please refer to Jean-Yves Le Drian's response to a topical question raised today in the Senate.

Sudan

According to al-Hadath TV, the Sudanese army announced on Thursday that the president and the cabinet of ministers had been removed from office in the context of protests against the head of state who has been in power for three decades. Can you comment on the situation in Sudan? What are the implications of this coup? Do you think that, with Algeria and Sudan, we're seeing a new wave of the Arab Spring?

We are closely following developments in the situation in Sudan.

We hope that the voice of the Sudanese people will be heard and that the changes underway take place without violence.