French Foreign Minister Jean - Yves Le Drian said Turkey had stopped insulting France and the European Union and offered some reass , but relations would remain fragile until Ankara did concrete work.

On more than one occasion Ankara has exchanged impassioned criticism with Paris over their policies in Syria, Libya, the eastern Mediterranean and other issues.

But last February, the two NATO members said they were working on a road map to normalize relations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, as part of these efforts.

There are no more insults, and the language is more reassuring," Le Drian said during a parliamentary hearing.

The removal of Turkish exploration vessels from Cypriot waters in the eastern Mediterranean and Ankara's willingness to resume talks with Greece on the long-standing maritime dispute between them were positive signs.

Relations were "fragile because the list of differences is too long, but we want a healthy relationship with Turkey" in reference to the differences over Libya, Iraq and the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

"There is a need for action, and we will be able to take a stand when these actions are carried out. So far it's just words. "