Congratulating Erdogan, Macron wants to improve relations

Legendre, a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry, answered questions from reporters at the ministry’s weekly press conference. Asked by the AA correspondent about the result of the second round of the presidential elections in Turkey and the future of bilateral relations between Turkey and France, Legrendre recalled that Macron made a statement on the elections in Turkey and spoke with President Erdogan. by phone. .

Legendre recalled that Macron stated that France and Turkey have deep issues to overcome together, such as the return of peace to Europe, the future of the Euro-Atlantic alliance and the challenges in the Mediterranean.

Anne-Claire Legendre reported that Macron congratulated Erdogan on his re-election and stressed that he wanted to advance France-Turkey relations.

Legendre claimed that Erdogan and Macron agreed to meet soon.

“WE ARE USED TO FALSE EXPLANATIONS”

Anne-Claire Legendre was also asked about the statements by the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Mariya Zakharova, that “France has no right to criticize any country for not respecting human rights and for the decline of democratic freedoms ”.

Legendre said: “We are used to false statements,” recalling that Russian officials have issued arrest warrants for war crimes and crimes against humanity, assessing that Zaharova is in a very bad position to talk about human rights.

Zaharova used the remarks in response to police using pepper spray against environmentalists who protested outside the building where TotalEnergies’ AGM was held in Paris last week.

THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF SWEDEN BILLSTRÖM ON A VISIT

Stating that French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna met Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström on the sidelines of today’s Informal NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Norway, Legendre said that Billström will meet before the NATO Summit to be held in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. on July 11 and 12. He said that he was coming to Paris.

Legendre stated that Colonna will meet the foreign ministers of the 3 Baltic countries on June 27 in Paris.

Referring to the tension in the north of Kosovo, Legendre emphasized that the situation in this country remains worrying. (AA)