Turkey-France relations 'unusually tense,' says Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu
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The relations between Ankara and Paris went through a period of tension, which is unusual for two allied countries, according to an opinion piece by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu published yesterday (June 6) in France's daily L'Opinion.
"Turkey and France are two friendly and allied countries. And they will remain so. We must ensure that no misunderstanding comes to disturb this relationship of friendship to which we are sincerely attached," Çavuşoğlu wrote, according to a translation by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA).
Recalling that contact was established between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his counterpart Emmanuel Macron, he said it gave them an opportunity to consolidate ties.
On a two-day visit to Paris, Çavuşoğlu will today meet Jean-Yves Le Drian, France's Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
He said Ankara and Paris now share a growing number of common interests regarding regional issues, including Syria, which recently made the two countries oppose each other.
Syria, Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean
The Turkish minister said "sincere and fruitful" discussions were held with France on Syria, noting: "As for our disagreements relating to the collaboration of our allies with the YPG/PKK [People's Protection Units/Kurdistan Workers Party] terrorists in their fight against Daesh, they can only be overcome when this cooperation ceases definitively."
"Our allies must understand that this terrorist organization is a threat to our national security and that it cannot be ignored," he wrote.
The minister said Turkey and France share some priorities in Libya, such as the stability and political unity of the country.
On issues in the Eastern Mediterranean, Çavuşoğlu said disputes between Turkey and Greece are now being handled with calm dialogue within the framework of various mechanisms between the two countries.
Recalling the failures of previous initiatives between the two sides of Cyprus, Çavuşoğlu said Ankara believes that only efforts based on the principles of sovereign equality and equal international status stand a chance of reaching a solution.
Turning to tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Çavuşoğlu said Turkey and France can together support a lasting peace that would benefit the prosperity of the two nations in question.
"No will to interfere in France's affairs"
Noting that the "perception" of Turkey in France has been affected recently by a certain number of confusions and prejudices, he said: "We repeat loud and clear that Turkey has never had any will to interfere in [the affairs of] France."
He stressed that his country's only priority for the people from Turkey living in France is to provide them with all the public services they expect from Turkey while promoting their successful integration into France.
Turkish language teachers and imams, or Muslim clerics, also respond to requests from citizens of Turkey, he said.
"These imams have also been a considerable asset for the French authorities, in particular, because no case of radicalization has been observed in their mosques."
The minister said all of the mentioned points confirm the convergence of priorities of Turkey and France and the benefit the two countries have in acting together with the strengthening of mutual trust. (PT/VK)