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France hails Turkey reforms,says EU entry years away
By Elizabeth Pineau
PARIS, July 20 (Reuters) - France urged Turkey on Tuesday to push
ahead with economic and political reforms to bolster its bid for entry
to the European Union, but warned Ankara was still a long way from
securing full membership.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan emerged upbeat from a "very
positive" working lunch with French President Jacques Chirac, who
supports Ankara's EU entry bid despite the opposition of his governing
conservative party.
EU leaders will decide in December whether to open entry talks with
Ankara. Britain, Germany, Italy and Greece have pledged strong
support for Turkey's EU bid, with France seen as the only large EU
state still expressing reservations.
Turkish financial markets are closely watching the run-up to December,
fearful that a 'no' could trigger a fresh economic crisis, unseat the
government and perhaps reverse some reforms.
Chirac's spokeswoman told reporters the French head of state believed
Turkey's entry into the 25-nation bloc was "desirable as soon as it
actually becomes possible."
In June, Chirac said Turkey's EU drive was "irreversible."
"Turkey has made considerable progress. It should continue and
intensify the implementation of democratic and economic reforms,"
Chirac's spokeswoman quoted him as telling Erdogan.
Diplomats expect negotiations to start in 2005 but say full membership
is a decade away. Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told Europe 1 radio
Turkey would not join the EU overnight.
"The road is still long, but it is on this path and has been making
progress for some time," he said.
GREEN LIGHT FOR TALKS
Erdogan said all Ankara wanted for now was a favourable report from
the European Commission on the start of entry talks.
A green light from EU leaders at their end-of-year summit "will not
constitute a decision on Turkey's joining the European Union, it will
simply be a decision to start entry negotiations with Turkey," Erdogan
said after meeting Chirac.
Earlier, he told French business leaders Turkish membership would
benefit the Union. He said he was convinced France "will give us the
greatest support" at the EU's December summit.
Erdogan is using his three-day visit to France to woo government and
political leaders and brief them on Turkey's progress in bringing its
laws into line with EU rules.
France's political class is deeply divided over admitting its NATO
ally to the European Union, critics citing Turkey's poverty and human
rights record as barriers.
Alain Juppe, a close Chirac ally and former head of the conservative
UMP party, has said the entry of a Muslim nation of 70 million would
distort the 25-nation European Union.
The opposition Socialists support Turkish membership in principle, but
party chief Francois Hollande has linked the start of entry talks to
Ankara's recognition of the 1915 killing of Armenians as genocide.
France is home to a significant Armenian population. Pro-Armenian
groups were to demonstrate in Paris later on Tuesday against Erdogan's
three-day visit.
Turkey's ruling centre-right AKP party, which has its roots in
political Islam, has introduced a flurry of liberal political and
economic reforms ahead of December's decision.
The Turkish government hopes to pass two major EU-linked laws -- a
revised penal code bringing criminal law closer to EU norms and a law
easing limits on freedom of association -- at a special session in
September.
07/20/04 12:18 ET
By Elizabeth Pineau
PARIS, July 20 (Reuters) - France urged Turkey on Tuesday to push
ahead with economic and political reforms to bolster its bid for entry
to the European Union, but warned Ankara was still a long way from
securing full membership.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan emerged upbeat from a "very
positive" working lunch with French President Jacques Chirac, who
supports Ankara's EU entry bid despite the opposition of his governing
conservative party.
EU leaders will decide in December whether to open entry talks with
Ankara. Britain, Germany, Italy and Greece have pledged strong
support for Turkey's EU bid, with France seen as the only large EU
state still expressing reservations.
Turkish financial markets are closely watching the run-up to December,
fearful that a 'no' could trigger a fresh economic crisis, unseat the
government and perhaps reverse some reforms.
Chirac's spokeswoman told reporters the French head of state believed
Turkey's entry into the 25-nation bloc was "desirable as soon as it
actually becomes possible."
In June, Chirac said Turkey's EU drive was "irreversible."
"Turkey has made considerable progress. It should continue and
intensify the implementation of democratic and economic reforms,"
Chirac's spokeswoman quoted him as telling Erdogan.
Diplomats expect negotiations to start in 2005 but say full membership
is a decade away. Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told Europe 1 radio
Turkey would not join the EU overnight.
"The road is still long, but it is on this path and has been making
progress for some time," he said.
GREEN LIGHT FOR TALKS
Erdogan said all Ankara wanted for now was a favourable report from
the European Commission on the start of entry talks.
A green light from EU leaders at their end-of-year summit "will not
constitute a decision on Turkey's joining the European Union, it will
simply be a decision to start entry negotiations with Turkey," Erdogan
said after meeting Chirac.
Earlier, he told French business leaders Turkish membership would
benefit the Union. He said he was convinced France "will give us the
greatest support" at the EU's December summit.
Erdogan is using his three-day visit to France to woo government and
political leaders and brief them on Turkey's progress in bringing its
laws into line with EU rules.
France's political class is deeply divided over admitting its NATO
ally to the European Union, critics citing Turkey's poverty and human
rights record as barriers.
Alain Juppe, a close Chirac ally and former head of the conservative
UMP party, has said the entry of a Muslim nation of 70 million would
distort the 25-nation European Union.
The opposition Socialists support Turkish membership in principle, but
party chief Francois Hollande has linked the start of entry talks to
Ankara's recognition of the 1915 killing of Armenians as genocide.
France is home to a significant Armenian population. Pro-Armenian
groups were to demonstrate in Paris later on Tuesday against Erdogan's
three-day visit.
Turkey's ruling centre-right AKP party, which has its roots in
political Islam, has introduced a flurry of liberal political and
economic reforms ahead of December's decision.
The Turkish government hopes to pass two major EU-linked laws -- a
revised penal code bringing criminal law closer to EU norms and a law
easing limits on freedom of association -- at a special session in
September.
07/20/04 12:18 ET