Turkish ambassador to France confirms spy case between Ankara and Paris

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The Turkish ambassador to France confirmed on Wednesday (July 1st) allegations by the Turkish press, which had echoed rumors concerning a spy case between the two countries. Questioned before the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of the French Senate, Ismail Hakki Musa is the first official to speak publicly about the file, in a context of strong tensions between Paris and Ankara.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Ankara, Anne Andlauer

As a Turkish daily close to the presidential palace said last week, there would therefore be a spy case between Paris and Ankara, The Turkish ambassador to France confirmed without further details, citing a "  case  Already two years old, "  treated closely  " and "  object of exchanges  " between the intelligence services of the two countries.

On June 22, the daily Sabah claimed that an ex-employee of the security service of the French Consulate General in Istanbul had confessed to the police to have spied on behalf of the Directorate General of External Security, the DGSE, and to have recruited three men, also arrested.

Paris has never officially commented on these allegations, and the Turkish ambassador maintains that these press leaks have "  nothing to do with the news  ".

The fact is, however, that the Franco-Turkish couple continues to tear each other apart and takes its NATO partners to witness. French leaders - President Emmanuel Macron in mind - almost daily condemn Turkey's involvement in the Libyan conflict and its gas drilling off the island of Cyprus.

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