File photo.
France respects Turkey and acknowledges its responsibility in the Black Sea but the “systematic nature” of the attacks on freedoms qualify as acts of aggression that France regrets, French president Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.
“Turkey needs Europe, and Europe needs Turkey. But it needs a Turkey that assumes its responsibilities for European security, (and) continues on its democratic path by respecting the commitments it has made,” he said.
On Thursday, Turkey dismissed what it called “biased” global remarks over the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, and detained nearly 1,900 people involved in the protests in support of him. [Reuters]