(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI, 25th July, 2017 (WAM) -- In a country where foreign policy is an intrinsic part of national identity, Emmanuel Macron, recently installed as France's president, is on an ambitious journey to restore the country's prestigious standing when it comes to foreign policy in the Arab world. The recent visit of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, to the UAE, after talks in Riyadh, Kuwait and Doha prompted by the current Qatar crisis, stood out as a moment of diplomatic conciliation, an editorial in a local English language daily has said.
"The French state's formerly interventionist stance on conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa under Mr. Macron's predecessors, Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande, left it exposed to all sorts of complicated reprisals and consequences," The National said today.
"Following on a process initiated by the UAE and Egypt, the French President rolled out a plan for peace between rival factions in Libya, with plans to bring Fayez Al Sarraj, Prime Minister of UN-backed Government of National Accord. and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the country's most powerful military commander, to the negotiating table, in the hopes of continuing a dialogue towards a political solution to the crisis and instability in Libya. Separately, Macron has bluntly stated that the French military intervention in Libya was a mistake. The meeting on Tuesday in Paris reflects a significant gesture towards correcting that mistake."
The paper concluded by saying that time has shown that actions abroad lead to reactions within. "A self-proclaimed 'Gaullo-Mitterrandist' when it comes to foreign policy, the French President is beating the rhythm of a new era in French foreign policy, to focus more on action within. If that helps bring an end to the conflict and chaos of post-uprising Libya, then his actions are to be welcomed."
[Image caption:In a country where foreign policy is an intrinsic part of national identity, Emmanuel Macron is on a journey to restore France's conciliatory role. Claude Paris / AP]
WAM/Chris Moran
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