Turkish FM responds to Macron’s remarks about “rivalry” in Balkans

Spokesperson of Turkish Foreign Ministry Hami Aksoy has responded to remarks of French President Emmanuel Macron about the situation in the Balkans, during his speech at the European Parliament.

“French President Macron, just like in a speech he made last year, has used expressions in the European Parliament about the Balkans being an area of rivalry for the EU, Turkey and the Russian Federation. This understanding that views the Balkans as a sphere of influence is not constructive,” Anadolu quotes Aksoy as saying.

Turkey is also a Balkan state, the ministry reports.

“Turkey’s aim and priority in this region today, as it has been in the past, is the maintenance and strengthening of peace, stability and sustainable development. With this objective, we continue to support membership of all countries in the region to European and Euro-Atlantic institutions,” Aksoy said.

As EADaily reported earlier, Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu called populist French President Macron’s statements claiming that April 14 strikes on Syria by U.S., UK and France split Moscow and Ankara. The Turkish minister said they anticipate Macron to make more president-like statements.

He said different points of view of Russia and Turkey on Syria do not hinder their cooperation. Çavuşoğlu said the relations with Russia are as strong as before.