Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy considers it necessary to halt European Union membership talks with Turkey if he is re-elected as French president, Interfax reports, citing Hurriyet.

“It is time that someone told Turkey its place is in Asia,” Sarkozy said.

He also pledged to do his utmost to change Britain’s decision on Brexit.

In Sarkozy’s words, in case of being re-elected he would leave for Britain with a draft treaty on EU membership to persuade London to reconsider the referendum results, which led to the departure from the bloc.

“Do you want to stay? If yes, so much better, because I can’t accept to lose Europe’s second-largest economy while we are negotiating with Turkey over its EU membership. And if it’s a no, then it’s a real no,” Sarkozy noted.