The US ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, will regain full access to the French government after he explains his decision not to show up after being summoned on Monday over comments made on the killing of a French far-right activist, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Tuesday.
"He needs to be able to have this discussion with us, with the Quai d'Orsay (the Foreign Ministry), so that he can resume the normal exercise of his duties as ambassador in France,” Barrot told France Info radio station.
Barrot summoned Kushner after the US embassy in Paris reposted comments by the Trump administration in Washington about slain far-right activist Quentin Deranque.
Deranque, 23, died from head injuries following clashes between radical-left and far-right supporters on the sidelines of a February 12 protest against a politician from the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party in Lyon.
Read moreThousands rally in Lyon for slain far-right activist Quentin Deranque; Nazi salutes reported
Barrot denounced on Sunday any attempts to exploit the killing "for political ends" and summoned Kushner for a meeting the following day.
But a diplomatic source told AFP the ambassador cited "personal commitments" and sent a senior embassy official instead, leading France to block Kushner's access to government ministers.
"In light of this apparent failure to grasp the basic requirements of the ambassadorial mission and the honour of representing one's country, the minister (Barrot) has requested that he (Kushner) no longer be allowed direct access to members of the French government," the foreign ministry said.
Kushner would, however, be permitted to continue his diplomatic duties and have "exchanges" with officials, it added in a statement.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters and AFP)










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