Erdogan, Macron talk about Afrin op. over phone

By Semra Orkan

ISTANBUL

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday discussed Turkey's ongoing operation in Afrin during a phone conversation with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, northwestern Syria to clear it from YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists.

Erdogan expressed his discomfort over baseless statements on the counter-terror operation, according to a presidential source.

In February, Macron said the a 30-day UN cease-fire adopted on Syria also applied to Turkey's operation in Afrin. The French leader had also warned Turkey against using the operation as an "excuse to invade Syria".

Erdogan said the operation aimed to eliminate terrorist threats and return peace for civilians in Afrin.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral and regional issues, the source added.

Speaking about the Turkey-EU summit in Varna, Bulgaria on March 26, Erdogan said Turkey attached great importance to its relations with the EU and revival of the membership process.

Also, Erdogan extended his condolence to Macron over a deadly hostage standoff at a supermarket in southern France, in which a gunman was killed by security forces.