French, British foreign ministers discuss Ukraine, Mideast issues on sidelines of G20 meetings

By Seyma Erkul Dayanc

ISTANBUL (AA) – France’s foreign minister held separate meetings with his British and Indonesian counterparts on the sidelines of a G20 foreign ministers' meeting in the US city of Atlanta, the French Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Jean-Noel Barrot on Friday met with Ed Miliband, the UK foreign minister, to discuss key international issues requiring coordination between France and the UK, including support for Ukraine and developments in the Middle East.

Separately, Barrot and Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir had their first meeting since Nasir took office.

The two discussed implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between France and Indonesia, announced during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Paris in May, as well as recent developments in bilateral defense cooperation.

They also discussed implications of the planned withdrawal of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the need to support the Lebanese Armed Forces to safeguard Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty.

The foreign ministers exchanged views on Gaza and the wider Middle East and agreed on the importance of maintaining the Indo-Pacific as an inclusive, secure, and open region, the ministry said.

Şeyma Erkul Dayanç