Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that his country and France have numerous cooperation files covering important regional and international issues, including Syria, Gaza, developments in Iran, Mediterranean security, and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In a press conference with his French counterpart, Jean-No«l Barrot, Fidan explained that these issues directly affect global security.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Turkish Foreign Minister indicated that he discussed with his French counterpart ways to continue the fight against the ISIS terrorist organization without interruption, emphasizing the importance of this issue. He said that he discussed with his French counterpart the latest developments related to the ongoing talks between Russia and Ukraine aimed at ending the conflict between them.

He added: “Given the pivotal role both countries play in NATO and European security, we emphasized the many areas where we can collaborate and the need for more regular meetings to discuss various issues.” Regarding bilateral relations between Turkey and France, Fidan stated that the two countries’ leaders provided political guidance to strengthen Turkish-French ties, affirming their commitment to enhancing relations across trade, economic, political, and other spheres.

Concerning Turkish-European relations, Fidan explained that he and his French counterpart exchanged views on overcoming existing challenges, most notably the modernization of the Customs Union agreement and the implementation of the visa liberalization agreement. For his part, French Foreign Minister Jean-No«l Barrot stated that Turkey and France have important roles to play in the political transition process in the Gaza Strip.

Barrot emphasized the ongoing and close cooperation and communication with Turkey, noting that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, continue their discussions on all relevant issues. He noted that combating terrorism is a key issue in bilateral cooperation and that both countries face significant threats. Barrot also mentioned that they discussed developments in Syria, noting rapid progress there.