Turkish FM visits France in bid to improve Paris-Ankara ties

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu arrived in France on Sunday in the first visit by a senior Turkish official after months of tension between the two countries, as Ankara seeks to improve its relations with Paris.

Cavusoglu will meet with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian during his two-day visit, to discuss bilateral relations, as well as relations between Turkey and the European Union, as well as regional and international issues, the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

There has been tension between the two countries over a number of issues, including the Libyan and Syrian conflicts, gas and oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, as well as continued Turkish criticism of France's treatment of its Muslim community.

In a sign of easing tensions, both the French and Turkish presidents held a video conference meeting.

Ankara has intensified its efforts to mending ties with its Western and regional allies since the beginning of the year to get out of its increasing isolation at the regional and international levels.