French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his German counterpart Heiko Mass on Tuesday discussed the recent disappearance of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi with US State Secretary Mike Pompeo.
"On Khashoggi case, I have already spoken several times. The facts that are being discussed are very serious, and we told this to the Saudi authorities with great firmness. We want the most clarity on the facts that have happened ... This morning we also discussed this serious issue of protecting expression and freedom of press with Mike Pompeo, " Le Drian said at a press conference following a meeting with his German counterpart.
The French foreign minister underlined that the relations with Riyadh might change depending on the results of the probe into the disappearance of the opposition journalist.
Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, went missing in Turkey on October 2. According to the journalist's fiancee, he was invited to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul but never left the consulate building. According to media reports, Turkish investigators believe the journalist was murdered inside the consulate, but Saudi Arabia claims that Khashoggi went missing after he left the building.
The European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom, among others, have expressed serious concerns over the journalist's disappearance. US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to "punish" Riyadh if it is proved to be behind the suspected killing.
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