Macron criticised after warm welcome for Saudi prince
EMMANUEL MACRON gave Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader a warm welcome for talks in Paris yesterday, clasping both Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s hands before hosting him for dinner at the Élysée Palace.
The French president smiled as he greeted Prince Mohammed, 36, on the red carpet outside his official residence, part of the Saudi’s first Europe trip since the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as he seeks to rehabilitate his image in the West.
Neither man made any comment but a statement was expected from the Élysée after the talks. The meeting has sparked anger in France, with Mr Macron yesterday described as dining with an accomplice to murder.
The crown prince has been accused by Western intelligence of directly approving the killing, something he denies.
The French president’s “working dinner” comes two weeks after the prince held talks in Saudi Arabia with Joe Biden, the US president.
The Saudi leader was initially branded a pariah after the 2018 killing of Mr Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The Washington Post journalist’s body was dismembered with a bone saw, according to Turkish officials.
However, Prince Mohammed has been gradually welcomed back into Western circles eager to reset relations with the Gulf Arab oil giant to counter the growing influence of Iran, Russia and China.
Since Moscow cut gas supplies to Europe, Mr Macron wants Riyadh to raise oil production to ease the burden on rocketing living costs.
Opposition and rights groups have expressed outrage. NGOS Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn), Open Society Justice Initiative, and Trial International filed a legal complaint in Paris.
The crown prince should not have immunity from prosecution because he is not the Saudi head of state, they argue.
“As a party to the UN Conventions against torture and enforced disappearances, France is obliged to investigate a suspect such as Bin Salman if he is present on French territory,” Sarah Leah Whitson, the executive director of Dawn, said.