since August, which has led France to ban visas and halt development aid for all three countries.
Abdul-Malak's remarks appeared intended to defuse a confrontation with the union of artistic and cultural businesses SYNDEAC, which had demanded to meet with her after her ministry issued a directive to halt all cooperation and financial support to institutions from the three countries.
Following the outcry, Abdul-Malak said she had asked her ministry to send out "clarifications" to the entertainment businesses, adding that existing partnerships would not be affected by the ban, only new projects that would require travel visas for artists. France is home to a large community of people with ties to the three African countries and performers from the region, in particular musicians, are popular at festivals.
Reporting by Jean-Stephane Brosse and Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Miral Fahmy