Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekçi has responded to recent remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron in which he complained about having to speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan every 10 days and said Erdoğan was bestowing a privilege on Macron in speaking with him.
Commenting during a party meeting in Denizli on Thursday, Zeybekçi said: “I am telling you as a child of this nation. One day, you will recount your memories proudly and boastfully, saying ‘I talked to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.’ Don’t forget that the conversations Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had with you are a privilege for you,” Doğan news agency reported.
Macron’s remarks came during an interview with Le Point magazine, which asked if Macron was aiming to be “cool” on the global stage.
“The global stage is not really a ’cool’ scene, you know. … I am the one who has to talk with Erdoğan every 10 days,” said Macron.
While Macron did not comment any further, an aide later said that Macron was referring to the serious nature of the conversations with Erdoğan.
Macron has phoned Erdoğan several times to request the immediate release of French journalist Loup Bureau, who was arrested on Aug. 1 in the southeastern Turkish province of Şırnak on charges of aiding and supporting a terrorist organization.