Exclusive-France softens stance on Turkey SAMP/T air defence sale, sources say

By John Irish, Angelo Amante and Tuvan GumrukcuPARIS/ROME/ANKARA, July 6 (Reuters) - France is open to a possible sale of the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air-defence system to Turkey after years of political opposition, according to five sources familiar with the matter, paving the way for more substantive talks with Ankara.Four sources said the shift in position followed talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a summit on June 25 ahead of this week's NATO summit in Turkey, although negotiations remain at an early stage.