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ANKARA: French Envoy Says EU Supports Turkey's Fight Against PKK Vio

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  • ANKARA: French Envoy Says EU Supports Turkey's Fight Against PKK Vio

    FRENCH ENVOY SAYS EU SUPPORTS TURKEY'S FIGHT AGAINST PKK VIOLENCE

    Anadolu Agency
    Oct 29 2008
    Turkey

    Emie, the French ambassador in Ankara, said that the EU would stand
    with Turkey on the fight against PKK since nothing could justify
    violence.

    The ambassador of France, holding the rotating presidency of the
    European Union (EU), reaffirmed on Tuesday the union's support for
    Turkey's fight against PKK violence.

    Bernard Emie, the French ambassador in Ankara, said that the EU
    would stand with Turkey on the fight against PKK since nothing could
    justify violence.

    "The PKK is for all of us a terrorist organization and is treated
    accordingly in all our countries," Emie said during a luncheon he
    hosted in honor of Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who is also
    the chief negotiator for the EU.

    Emie said that the EU was very much confident that the Turkish
    government would deal with that issue (terrorism) with the arms
    of democracy.

    On the crisis in Caucasus, Emie said that the French presidency of
    the EU supported Turkey's initiatives (the Turkish idea of a platform
    for cooperation and stability in the Caucasus and President Abdullah
    Gul's trip to Yerevan on September 6).

    Emie said that there was yet much that remained to be done to restore
    the full stability of the region and the EU presidency had decided
    to work hand in hand.

    Referring to Turkey's EU membership bid, the ambassador said that
    the French presidency was holding its course and keeping its promises.

    "I am glad that Turkish authorities acknowledged the fact that France's
    pledge of a neutral, objective and impartial presidency towards Turkey
    was kept," Emie said.

    Emie expressed belief that the draft for the national program on
    integration of the acquis had the potential to become an important
    roadmap for the reforms that still needed to be done.

    "We also very much hope that some further progress will be registered
    in terms of freedom of expression," the ambassador said.

    Emie also said that the French presidency was doing its utmost to
    carry on, with all the European partners, the preparatory work for
    the opening of new chapters.

    "We very much hope that the full involvement of the Turkish side
    that we have witnessed in the past weeks, under your leadership,
    will continue to prevail so that we should be in a position to open
    two chapters," the French ambassador said.

    Emie expressed hope that the talks held in Cyprus would yield results
    some time soon, and said that the EU stood ready to assist and to
    continue to bring its direct assistance to the Turkish Cypriots that
    were also members of the European family.

    The French ambassador also congratulated Turkey on its election as
    a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council
    for the term 2009-2010.
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