Erdogan and Macron (Archives) -
AFP
Relations between France and Turkey have recently deteriorated.
At issue: the tensions in the eastern Mediterranean where France is involved in favor of Greece and Cyprus, but also the Libyan crisis where Turkey sponsors one of the belligerent parties and is accused by Paris of not respecting the international embargo on arms.
So many subjects discussed during a telephone interview between Emmanuel Macron and Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, during which the French president asked his Turkish counterpart to commit "unambiguously" to the de-escalation of the sharp tensions with Greece and Cyprus, EU country, in the Mediterranean.
Erdogan expects "common sense" from France
Emmanuel Macron "called on Turkey to fully respect the sovereignty of the member states of the European Union as well as international law, to refrain from any new unilateral action likely to provoke tensions, and to engage unambiguously in the construction of an area of peace and cooperation in the Mediterranean ”, according to the French presidency.
For its part, the Turkish presidency said that President Erdogan has let it be known that "he expects common sense and a constructive attitude from France in this process", while Turkey and Greece have just said they are ready to begin negotiations.
Paris has supported Athens in this crisis.
The French president also "called for a similar dialogue in the same spirit to be accepted by Turkey with the Republic of Cyprus", according to the Elysee.
World
Tensions in the Mediterranean: Turkey and Greece opt for appeasement and resumption of dialogue
Emmanuel Macron
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkey
Mediterranean
World