Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed the European Union’s roadmap for lifting sanctions against Syria, during a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.
Emmanuel Macron © Mena Today
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed the European Union’s roadmap for lifting sanctions against Syria, during a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.
This exchange, the second between the two leaders since December 18, took place 48 hours after Macron’s call to Ahmad al-Chareh, Syria’s interim president, marking the first direct contact between a Western leader and the new Syrian leadership.
During the call, Erdogan described the suspension of EU sanctions against Syria as extremely appropriate and emphasized the importance of lifting them completely.
He also reaffirmed that Turkey would continue its support for Syria, as stated in the Turkish presidency's communiqué.
Furthermore, Erdogan stressed that intensifying dialogue between Turkey and France would positively impact bilateral relations, highlighting the potential for cooperation in various sectors, particularly in defense.
Over the past years, Turkey has significantly strengthened its defense industry, gaining strategic leverage in the sector.
In late January, the European Union agreed on a roadmap to relax sanctions on Syria, imposed under the Bashar al-Assad regime. The new Syrian leadership has been advocating for the full removal of these sanctions, which they view as essential for the country's economic recovery and reconstruction.
France has asked for the public prosecutor to investigate the treatment of French nationals who were part of a recent activist flotilla heading for Gaza, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday.
Syria issued a warning Thursday over rising water levels along the Euphrates River, following floods in the country's north and east caused by heavy rainfall and increased water flows from Turkey.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he had directed Israel's military to take more of Gaza, initially by seizing 70% of the Palestinian territory, where the population is already penned into a tiny strip of land along the coast.
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