French President Emmanuel Macron did not opt for a Turkey state visit because he felt some issues needed to be resolved.
Turkey State Visit Not Possible for Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron is unlikely to visit Turkey, notwithstanding the open invitation by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously in the year, indicating that the nations' differences are too big for now, reported the Middle East Eye.
Turkey and France had quite a tumultuous relationship over the past several years, throwing punches over issues such as the eastern Mediterranean and Syria.
These two leaders even swapped petty attacks, with Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan insulting Macron as "brain dead." However, a timeframe of non-engagement stopped last year after they communicated messages to fix damaged relations.
Erdogan claimed to have met Macron in October and invited him to stay with him on the sidelines of the French-led European Political Community summit. Erdogan mentioned that Macron requested to bring his wife, who got along with him, and asked if he could travel after the G-20 summit in Indonesia in November, noted News.am.
French sources familiar with the conversations told a gathering of journalists that Macron's excursion to Ankara seemed highly improbable. The reports said that both nations are still bargaining to reach agreements on multiple disputes, and the trip would be useless without their settlement.
French President Macron Not Set to Visit soon
The forthcoming Turkish presidential elections, planned for June, are yet another factor.
References said that they would want to avoid having an official Turkey state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron quite close to the elections and risk affecting Turkish national affairs.
In affairs in the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, Ankara and Paris have taken issue over territorial waters and frictions between Ankara, Greece, and Cyprus.
The reports claim that Istanbul has challenged the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus, increasing tensions and marginalizing Ankara from the European Union.
The reports, which argue that such a two-state solution in Cyprus seems to be against the United Nations variables, also said Erdogan's call for a symposium on the eastern Mediterranean is now on the table. Those who said France wants to do everything required to undertake mutual goals, citing Reuters.
It also stated that Turkey's proposal for a meeting and discussion is consistent with French objectives as long as conflicts are avoided.
France does not have a separate agenda on the issues and wants a solution according to UN parameters, they added.
They added that Paris still needs to have a completely separate initiative on the issues and wants a solution based on UN parameters.
Earlier in the month, Macron also suggested a regional summit on Turkish and Iranian military activities against Kurdish groups in Syria and Iraq to be held even before the calendar year's end. These gatherings are still being scheduled, and they will likely convene before the end of the year.
France says commercial and economical collaborations are two of the main pillars of its interaction with Turkey.
Before French President Emmanuel Macron decides on a Turkey state visit, issues have to be clarified between the two nations.
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