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Agence France Presse
Dec 14 2004
Chirac expresses concerns to Dutch PM over Turkey's EU bid
13/12/2004
President Jacques Chirac expressed France's concerns Monday over
talks this week aimed at deciding whether Turkey will join the
European Union, during a meeting with the visiting Dutch prime
minister.
Chirac reminded Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, whose country
currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, of "France's
preoccupations with regard to the talks," according to Chirac's
spokesman Jerome Bonnafont.
The French president also "expressed confidence that the Dutch
presidency would take France's concerns into consideration," said
Bonnafont.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Balkenende said the French
president had made clear to him the concerns of the French parliament
and the French people with regard to the negotiations with Turkey on
joining the EU.
"The objective is (Turkey) joining, but we also have to imagine that
the talks might not necessarily end in a yes," said Balkenende.
"We are going to continue our talks and consultations with the other
member countries," said the Dutch PM, adding, "we all know that there
are differing positions in Europe when it comes to Turkey."
EU leaders are expected to give Turkey a conditional green light at a
summit on Thursday and Friday this week to start entry talks, while
setting a series of strict conditions and warning the process could
take at least a decade.
France would like to see provisions for a strong link with Ankara in
case negotiations for full membership fail -- although Paris has not
argued for the kind of scaled back partnership opponents of Turkey's
EU bid would like to see.
Ankara has made it clear that it wants no other status but full
membership in the European club.
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier called Monday for the EU to
start entry talks with Turkey at the earliest next July, giving
ground on a previous call for them to be at the end of 2005 or in
2006.
Barnier also said that France wanted Turkey to acknowledge the World
War I massacre of Armenians during negotiations on its EU membership.
Dec 14 2004
Chirac expresses concerns to Dutch PM over Turkey's EU bid
13/12/2004
President Jacques Chirac expressed France's concerns Monday over
talks this week aimed at deciding whether Turkey will join the
European Union, during a meeting with the visiting Dutch prime
minister.
Chirac reminded Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, whose country
currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, of "France's
preoccupations with regard to the talks," according to Chirac's
spokesman Jerome Bonnafont.
The French president also "expressed confidence that the Dutch
presidency would take France's concerns into consideration," said
Bonnafont.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Balkenende said the French
president had made clear to him the concerns of the French parliament
and the French people with regard to the negotiations with Turkey on
joining the EU.
"The objective is (Turkey) joining, but we also have to imagine that
the talks might not necessarily end in a yes," said Balkenende.
"We are going to continue our talks and consultations with the other
member countries," said the Dutch PM, adding, "we all know that there
are differing positions in Europe when it comes to Turkey."
EU leaders are expected to give Turkey a conditional green light at a
summit on Thursday and Friday this week to start entry talks, while
setting a series of strict conditions and warning the process could
take at least a decade.
France would like to see provisions for a strong link with Ankara in
case negotiations for full membership fail -- although Paris has not
argued for the kind of scaled back partnership opponents of Turkey's
EU bid would like to see.
Ankara has made it clear that it wants no other status but full
membership in the European club.
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier called Monday for the EU to
start entry talks with Turkey at the earliest next July, giving
ground on a previous call for them to be at the end of 2005 or in
2006.
Barnier also said that France wanted Turkey to acknowledge the World
War I massacre of Armenians during negotiations on its EU membership.