Erdoğan and Macron talk on the phone amid Eastern Mediterranean crisis

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Making harsh statements amid ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of France Emmanuel Macron talked over the phone after months yesterday evening (September 22).

As announced by the Presidency's Communications Directorate in a statement, during the phone call held upon Macron's request, the relations between Turkey and France as well as between Turkey and the European Union (EU) were discussed and regional developments including particularly the Eastern Mediterranean were addressed.

'We need to use diplomatic opportunities'

The Directorate has shared the following details about the phone conversation between President Erdoğan and President Macron:

"President Erdoğan indicated during the conversation that the ignorance of the legitimate rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean was the reason for the tension in the region, and stated that he failed to understand France's support for the maximalist claims and steps of Greece and the Greek Cypriots that served to further escalate the tension.

"Stressing that Turkey had no eye on any country's rights and would never allow its rights to be usurped by anyone; President Erdoğan said Turkey, as always, advocated dialogue and cooperation for resolving problems.

"Underscoring the need to make use of diplomatic opportunities and implement sustainable negotiation processes to decrease the tension, President Erdoğan expressed Turkey's willingness to discuss and solve all the problems around the table.

"President Erdoğan said Turkey expected France to adopt a prudent and constructive stance and underlined the value of a functioning consultation and communication mechanism between Turkey and France.

"President Erdoğan stated that an approach that encouraged constructive dialogue and cooperation towards Turkey at the EU Leaders' Summit was important for the possible solution of regional issues."

Statement by the Elysee Palace

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the Elysee Palace has also released a statement about the phone call.

According to a statement issued by the Palace, President of France Macron said that his country was always ready for dialogue and attached importance to a solid relationship between the EU and Turkey.

The issues of Libya and Syria along with the Eastern Mediterranean were discussed in the conversation, which lasted more than an hour, it said.

The statement also underlined that Macron hailed the exploratory talks to begin soon between Turkey and Greece.

Macron stressed that he wanted the talks to be held in good faith and with the concern of lowering the pressure in the region, the statement said, adding the French leader also called for a similar dialogue to be conducted between Turkey and the Greek Cypriot Administration.

It was stated that the two leaders decided to continue the dialogue on these issues at the presidential and ministerial levels. (PT/SD)