The official Emirates News Agency said Douste-Blazy planned to talk to officials about U.N. Security Council efforts to narrow differences over new sanctions against Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.
Douste-Blazy also would discuss other regional issues and economic ties between France and the Gulf countries, the news agency said.
“There is continuous dialogue between our leaders who share common views on a number of regional issues, including Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and the Middle East peace process,” Douste-Blazy told the Emirates News Agency before his visit.
The French foreign minister was first expected to travel to Kuwait and was set to arrive later in the day in the Emirates’ capital, Abu Dhabi, where he was to meet the Emirates Foreign Minister Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and attend the Emirates-French Joint Economic Commission.
Douste-Blazy also told the news agency that the Emirates and Kuwait were showing interest in fostering stronger cultural and educational ties with France including the recent agreement to establish the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
