Intel sharing with Turkey improves as Europe realizes extent of problem, envoy says

Intelligence cooperation between Ankara and European countries has recently improved, leading Turkey to expel over 1,000 over suspected jihadist links, Turkey's Paris envoy has said amid a heated debate on how to maintain security in Europe after last month's jihadist attacks.

Speaking during an interview with Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency, Hakk? Akil, Ankara's top diplomat in France, said cooperation between Turkey and France, as well as other European countries, has increased following source countries' alarm over the threat.

"Unfortunately, this cooperation did not proceed healthily at the beginning, but more concrete steps have been taken," he said.

"We can say cooperation is going better as source countries have realized the seriousness of the issue."

He echoed Turkish authorities and said Turkey could be successful in stemming the flow of would-be jihadists to Iraq and Syria if home countries provided information about the suspects, brushing off criticism against Turkey over the issue.

"I, as a Turkish citizen, cannot know which French citizen is a foreign fighter and which is not. It is impossible for my border police at airports, or other entrance points, to know this. We can only cooperate if source countries provide information," he said.

"There is no problem with us in terms of cooperation, but source countries should exert more efforts on the issue and have more control on the situation at their borders."

Akil also noted Turkey has refused the entry of nearly 40 French citizens over suspected links with Islamists in the Middle East.

According to figures provided by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu on Feb. 4, a total of 9,915 people have been banned from entering Turkey,...