France quite content with Turkey on security: Envoy

Paris is entirely happy with the level of cooperation it is receiving from Ankara on intelligence-sharing regarding extremist plots, according to France's envoy to Turkey. Suggestions in some quarters of the French media that Turkey is not pulling its weight against jihadists are also unfair, Laurent Bili adds France is more than pleased with Turkey's cooperation on security against extremist threats, according to French Envoy to Ankara Laurent Bili.

"I think there is some unfair criticism toward Turkey's cooperation in the field of security," he said. "We are 100 percent satisfied with the cooperation with the Turkish Interior Ministry and the police."

What is the current mood in France after the killings?

We are still in big grief; it was a big shock. At the same time, French citizens feel proud to be French; we could have fallen to the easy reaction of hatred but all these people walking the streets of Paris on Sunday [Jan. 11] sent a message of dignity, of unity and of refusal of any intolerance, racism and Islamophobia.  I think it was a great message.

Also, we feel proud and comforted by the number of messages we received from the entire world.
President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an was one of the leaders to get in touch with the president [François Hollande]. Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu [offered] to present his condolences in Paris and proposed a trip before knowing about the Sunday march.

How do you view Turkey's reaction both at a state and a societal level?

Both levels were exemplary. Erdo?an was one of the first leaders to call on Hollande and they talked the day after. The declaration of [Religious Affairs Directorate] President Mehmet Görmez was also very important. In such situations,...