The Government of Turkey has Saturday blasted France and the French Government at what it has described as French President Emmanuel Macron’s “unacceptable” comments in Algeria on some of the foreign powers who had been spreading anti-French propaganda in Africa.
On a visit to France’s former colony which had been aimed at mending troubled ties, Macron on Friday appeared to warn some of the young citizens of Algerian and Africans against manipulation by “networks” influenced by Turkey, Russia and China that present France as an “enemy”.
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“There is immense manipulation,” Macron told reporters.
“Many political Islam activists have an enemy: France. Many of the networks that are covertly pushed — … by Turkey… by Russia… by China — have an enemy: France.”
Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic slammed what he described as the French leader’s “extremely unfortunate” comments.
“It is unacceptable that… Macron, who has difficulties in confronting his colonial past in Africa, especially Algeria, tries to get rid of his colonial past by accusing other countries, including our country,” he said in a statement.
“We hope that France will reach the maturity to face its colonial past without blaming other countries, including our country, as soon as possible.”
Macron’s three-day visit to Algeria this week has aimed to turn the page on months of tensions with the North African country, which earlier this year marked six decades of independence following 132 years of French rule.
In another report, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have finslly reached agreement that Turkey will start paying Russia in rubles for partial gas supplies due to a currency devaluation.
The bilateral talk between the two countries had been held in Sochi and lasted for over four hours on Friday.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who spoke with reporters after meeting, said “In the process of negotiations, the presidents agreed that they would start payment in rubles for partial gas supplies.”
He had also revealed that the talk was just in its first stage, adding that part of the supplies will be paid in Russian rubles.
