French concern over Turkish threats against Syria

France has expressed its hope that unresolved issues between Syria and Turkey will be settled through direct dialogue.

Assistant spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry said that France, which was very concerned over the deterioration of relations between Turkey and Syria, has followed with satisfaction the progress in the "good offices" exerted by Egypt to mediate between the two sides. He added that France fully backs the Egyptian efforts.

The French spokesman added that his country hopes that unresolved issues between the two countries will be sorted out through direct dialogue.

He expressed his country's readiness to facilitate contacts between the two countries through the friendly relations linking France to both Syria and Turkey.

Meanwhile, the prime minister of Yemen, Abdul Karim al-Iryani, has voiced the solidarity of Yemen's people and government in backing Syria against the Turkish threats. During his meeting with Syria's ambassador in Sanaa, Amin Isber, al-Iryani added that Yemen supports Syria in protecting its territories and in ensuring national sovereignty against these threats.

Al-Iryani called upon Turkey to come to the negotiating table to settle pending issues between the two countries.