France, Turkey want more talks on Syria after spat on Afrin operation

PARIS, March 24 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan showed convergence on the need to pursue "close dialogues" to come out with political alternatives to end hostilities in Syria and handle Cyprus crisis, the French presidency said Saturday in a statement.

During Friday's phone conversation, both leaders agreed that "deep and intense exchanges will continue in the coming days on Syria", the statement said.

Macron also "recalled the strategic importance of our partnership with Turkey, especially on the fight against terrorism and in addressing all regional crises, as well as our attention to Turkey's security interests", it said.

Differences tainted the two NATO allies' diplomatic ties after Ankara launched, in January this year, a military offensive to eradicate Kurdish insurgents in Afrin, northern Syria near Turkish borders.

A biggest critic to the operation, Macron warned Turkey of the risks of an "invasion" that "poses a real problem" by "not respecting the Syrian sovereignty".

Expressing concerns over the situation in Syria, Macron told Erdogan "to give top priority to the fight against the Islamic State" in Syria and respect "without more delay" commitment to halt hostilities throughout Syria and build a lasting political solution.

The two leaders also discussed the situation in Cyprus after Turkish warships blocked Cypriot offshore drilling in the east Mediterranean, further fuelling tension between Cyprus and Turkey.

Macron "expressed his willingness to continue close dialogues with Turkey on the situation off Cyprus and in the Aegean Sea", according to the statement. Enditem