Turkish Presidency ironically praises Erdoğan’s ‘valuable’ meeting with France’s Macron

ANKARA

Following the Sept. 19 meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and French President Emmanuel Macron in New York, the Turkish Presidency issued an ironic message saying “meeting with the President of Turkey is valuable.” 

The message came after Macron’s recent reported complaint that he “has to speak with Erdoğan every 10 days.” 

The message was posted on the French-language Twitter account of the Turkish Presidency after the meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 19, indirectly referring to Macron’s earlier remarks on why his job is “not cool.” 

"La rencontre avec le président de la Turquie est une valeur." pic.twitter.com/ubtGbYdB49

— Présidence Turquie (@tcbestepe_fr) 20 Eylül 2017

 
“The global stage is not really a ‘cool’ scene, you know,” Macron told Le Point magazine on Aug 30, citing the fact that he “has to speak with Erdoğan every 10 days” as an example. 

His office later denied that his reference was criticism, saying it was “always valuable” to speak with the Turkish president.