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FRANCE'S KOUCHNER SAYS TURKEY'S EU TALKS WON'T BE BLOCKED
By Ayhan Simsek for Southeast European Times
Southeast European Times, MD
Oct 9 2007
French Foreign Minister Kouchner paid a visit to Ankara last week. He
said President Nicolas Sarkozy has eased his stance on Turkey's
negotiations with the EU.
"Our relations had cooled a bit. I hope they will warm up in the
coming days," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Ankara
on Friday (October 5th). [Getty Images]
France and Turkey agreed on Friday (October 5th) to continue dialogue
on the sensitive topic of EU accession. Visiting Ankara, French
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said his country will not block
Turkey's negotiations with the bloc.
"Our relations had cooled a bit. I hope they will warm up in the
coming days," Kouchner said on Friday. "EU negotiations would lead
to closer bonds between Turkey and EU, even though we disagree on
the ultimate goal of these talks. Everything is open-ended today."
Kouchner added that French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has
repeatedly voiced his opposition to EU membership for Turkey, has
eased his stance. Sarkozy has suggested focusing on 30 of the 35
chapters in the accession talks, leading to a special partnership.
Diplomatic sources say the US administration, which strongly favours
Turkey's EU membership process, was a key factor influencing Sarkozy's
turnaround.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who met with Kouchner, said
Turkey seeks the fulfillment of European promises and does not want
to be dragged into discussions about the future of the EU.
"We share a desire to improve our ties in every field ... I see our
talks today as the beginning of a new impetus in bilateral relations,"
Babacan said.
According to Kouchner, France is also interested in joining key energy
projects related to Turkey. Ankara has opposed the participation
of Gaz de France (GDF) in the Nabucco pipeline project, which will
facilitate the transport of natural gas from the Middle East and
Central Asia to the EU via Turkey and the Balkans. The pipeline will
help reduce dependence on Russian gas.
Turkey's opposition stems in part from a controversial law adopted
by the French National Assembly last year. The law made it a crime
to question whether the mass killings of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey
during and after World War I constituted genocide.
The French foreign minister, however, maintains that the law "is not
a threat to further development of relations between the two countries
in all fields".
Kouchner also met with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan before wrapping up his visit late Friday. "We
have differences, but we have more in common. We have to speak more
and more sincerely. This visit is the first of a series of visits
and meetings between Turkey and France," Kouchner said.
By Ayhan Simsek for Southeast European Times
Southeast European Times, MD
Oct 9 2007
French Foreign Minister Kouchner paid a visit to Ankara last week. He
said President Nicolas Sarkozy has eased his stance on Turkey's
negotiations with the EU.
"Our relations had cooled a bit. I hope they will warm up in the
coming days," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Ankara
on Friday (October 5th). [Getty Images]
France and Turkey agreed on Friday (October 5th) to continue dialogue
on the sensitive topic of EU accession. Visiting Ankara, French
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said his country will not block
Turkey's negotiations with the bloc.
"Our relations had cooled a bit. I hope they will warm up in the
coming days," Kouchner said on Friday. "EU negotiations would lead
to closer bonds between Turkey and EU, even though we disagree on
the ultimate goal of these talks. Everything is open-ended today."
Kouchner added that French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has
repeatedly voiced his opposition to EU membership for Turkey, has
eased his stance. Sarkozy has suggested focusing on 30 of the 35
chapters in the accession talks, leading to a special partnership.
Diplomatic sources say the US administration, which strongly favours
Turkey's EU membership process, was a key factor influencing Sarkozy's
turnaround.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who met with Kouchner, said
Turkey seeks the fulfillment of European promises and does not want
to be dragged into discussions about the future of the EU.
"We share a desire to improve our ties in every field ... I see our
talks today as the beginning of a new impetus in bilateral relations,"
Babacan said.
According to Kouchner, France is also interested in joining key energy
projects related to Turkey. Ankara has opposed the participation
of Gaz de France (GDF) in the Nabucco pipeline project, which will
facilitate the transport of natural gas from the Middle East and
Central Asia to the EU via Turkey and the Balkans. The pipeline will
help reduce dependence on Russian gas.
Turkey's opposition stems in part from a controversial law adopted
by the French National Assembly last year. The law made it a crime
to question whether the mass killings of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey
during and after World War I constituted genocide.
The French foreign minister, however, maintains that the law "is not
a threat to further development of relations between the two countries
in all fields".
Kouchner also met with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan before wrapping up his visit late Friday. "We
have differences, but we have more in common. We have to speak more
and more sincerely. This visit is the first of a series of visits
and meetings between Turkey and France," Kouchner said.