French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said before her visit to Turkey that she would urge that country not to become a platform for Russia to circumvent Western sanctions.

However, she left the press conference with her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu without delivering that message, at least publicly. Instead, the media event in Ankara turned into an opportunity for Cavusoglu to criticize French President Emmanuel Macron and call on France to protect its Muslim community from "attacks and xenophobia," Ahval wrote.

Before Colonna's two-day visit, French officials said he would focus on raising the issue of Russia's violation of sanctions, according to French media reports. Europe has imposed sanctions, the U.S. has also done so, as have other allies and partners, but some have not adopted the sanctions policy, such as Turkey. It is important that those countries do not become a platform for circumventing sanctions.

According to the French news agency Agence France-Presse, Colonna made efforts to avoid a repeat of the public spat that arose during German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's visit to Ankara in July. Baerbock pressured Cavusoglu over human rights abuses in Turkey and openly sided with Greece in a regional dispute, prompting a strong reaction from Cavusoglu.

As for Greece, Colonna said she discussed Cavusoglu's increasingly bitter war of words between the two neighbors, urging him to avoid any escalation, verbal or otherwise.

During the press conference, Cavusoglu characterized comments made by Macron last month during a visit to Algeria as unfortunate.

Macron accused networks from Turkey, China and Russia of presenting France as the enemy. Many activists of political Islam have an enemy: France. Many of the networks that are secretly promoted by Turkey, Russia, China see France as the enemy, Macron said.

It is wrong to see Turkey as a competitor, Cavusoglu said. If it is difficult for France to return to some African countries, Turkey can help France because Turkey is a reliable partner.

Last month, the U.S. Treasury sent a letter to Turkish companies warning of sanctions if they trade with Russian companies, including denial of access to dollars.

Cavusoglu warned Colonna about what he called the rise of racism and Islamophobia in Europe, and said it was in the interests of France and Turkey to address the issue.

"We believe that France will not abandon common sense," he said. He said Turkey expects the French government to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of mosques as well as Turkish and Muslim communities living in the country.