Davutoğlu heralds new era with Frencn gov’t

PARIS - Anatolia News Agency

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said a new era is beginning in Turkey’s relations with France after the election of its new Socialist president, following his meeting with his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius, yesterday.

In a joint press conference with Davutoğlu, the French minister said that they discussed Syria, Afghanistan, developments in the Middle East and Turkey-EU relations, as well as commercial and cultural issues. “In a region of instability, our ally Turkey is an indispensable actor and a factor for stability,” Fabius said. Fabius said the two countries’ perspective on Syria is very close.

Friends of Syrian People meeting

“We are here to show a will to begin on new terms with France. Turkish-French diplomatic relations are important for the history of diplomacy,” Davutoğlu said.

Turkey is an important and indispensable actor in the region, Fabius said. Asked if France would lift its veto on five chapters in Turkey’s EU negotiations, Fabius said the new French government is working on it.

Today, Davutoğlu will represent Turkey at the Friends of the Syrian People group meeting, which is aimed at coordinating efforts to stop the violence in Syria.