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Journal of Turkish Daily
March 30 2005
Anti-Turkish French Groups Based Their Opposition on Turkey-Morocco
Comparison
* `Turkey's possible membership doesn't depend at all on the
acceptance or rejection of the treaty,' say French churches in a bid
to prompt a `yes' vote in a referendum for the European Constitution
* Anti-Turkish groups used the Armenian issue to prevent Turkey's
membership. Now they use orocco to stop the Turks
ANKARA - While Nicolas Sarkozy, leader of the ruling French Union for
Popular Movement (UMP), has been insisting on suggesting to Turkey `a
privileged partnership' instead of full European Union membership,
France's Christian churches, speaking up for the European
Constitution yesterday, urged voters not to turn a referendum on the
treaty into a plebiscite of Turkey's entry bid or of local political
issues.
During a visit to Morocco, Sarkozy said Europe's definition should
first of all be determined according to geographical criteria, French
daily Le Figaro yesterday reported. `If Turkey is European, why
wouldn't Morocco be European as well?' Anatolia quoted Sarkozy's
remarks as reported by the daily. `When I was a student, I was taught
that Ankara is in Asia. It's certainly not an insult to note this,'
Sarkozy said.
Turkey is located between Asia and Europe and has territories on both
continents. Turkey's European territories are larger than the Greek
Cyprus, Luxembourg and many other EU members. Turkey's largest city,
Istanbul is based on Europe and Asia and the population on `European
Turkey' is bigger than many EU members.
The UMP has been making an effort to convince the French public that
by supporting the European Constitution it would also help decrease
Turkey's chances of gaining full EU membership. Sarkozy, who is
expecting to come to power in 2007, has repeatedly voiced the
sentiment that the European Constitution actually foresees a
`privileged partnership' for Turkey instead of full EU membership.
Yet, certain elected officials estimate that anxiety on the right
wing will reinforce a `no' vote in the referendum slated for May 29.
In a bid to convince French public on a `yes' vote, Roman Catholic,
Protestant and Orthodox leaders yesterday said in a joint letter that
the purpose of the referendum is `to decide on the treaty itself,
without being distracted by purely national issues or side debates.'
`Turkey's possible membership doesn't depend at all on the acceptance
or rejection of the treaty,' the French churches' letter said.
The latest opinion poll on the French referendum, published in
yesterday's edition of Le Figaro, said 54 percent of voters opposed
the treaty.
The French groups who oppose Turkey's membership cannot publicly base
their opposition on anti-Turkish or anti-Muslim `principles'.
Therefore they use Armenian issue or Morocco to prevent Turkey's
membership.
For many French politicians Turkey cannot be a EU member, because of
Turkey's religion. The rightist and racist groups in many EU
countries are against Turkey's membership and they see no place for
the Muslims in `European civilisation'. Many European countries are
Muslim populated, but none of them EU member, including Turkey,
Albania, Bosnia, Turkish Cyprus and Azerbaijan.
Compiled and prepared by the JTW staff. Includes some info from
Turkish daily News and news agencies.
30 March 2005
March 30 2005
Anti-Turkish French Groups Based Their Opposition on Turkey-Morocco
Comparison
* `Turkey's possible membership doesn't depend at all on the
acceptance or rejection of the treaty,' say French churches in a bid
to prompt a `yes' vote in a referendum for the European Constitution
* Anti-Turkish groups used the Armenian issue to prevent Turkey's
membership. Now they use orocco to stop the Turks
ANKARA - While Nicolas Sarkozy, leader of the ruling French Union for
Popular Movement (UMP), has been insisting on suggesting to Turkey `a
privileged partnership' instead of full European Union membership,
France's Christian churches, speaking up for the European
Constitution yesterday, urged voters not to turn a referendum on the
treaty into a plebiscite of Turkey's entry bid or of local political
issues.
During a visit to Morocco, Sarkozy said Europe's definition should
first of all be determined according to geographical criteria, French
daily Le Figaro yesterday reported. `If Turkey is European, why
wouldn't Morocco be European as well?' Anatolia quoted Sarkozy's
remarks as reported by the daily. `When I was a student, I was taught
that Ankara is in Asia. It's certainly not an insult to note this,'
Sarkozy said.
Turkey is located between Asia and Europe and has territories on both
continents. Turkey's European territories are larger than the Greek
Cyprus, Luxembourg and many other EU members. Turkey's largest city,
Istanbul is based on Europe and Asia and the population on `European
Turkey' is bigger than many EU members.
The UMP has been making an effort to convince the French public that
by supporting the European Constitution it would also help decrease
Turkey's chances of gaining full EU membership. Sarkozy, who is
expecting to come to power in 2007, has repeatedly voiced the
sentiment that the European Constitution actually foresees a
`privileged partnership' for Turkey instead of full EU membership.
Yet, certain elected officials estimate that anxiety on the right
wing will reinforce a `no' vote in the referendum slated for May 29.
In a bid to convince French public on a `yes' vote, Roman Catholic,
Protestant and Orthodox leaders yesterday said in a joint letter that
the purpose of the referendum is `to decide on the treaty itself,
without being distracted by purely national issues or side debates.'
`Turkey's possible membership doesn't depend at all on the acceptance
or rejection of the treaty,' the French churches' letter said.
The latest opinion poll on the French referendum, published in
yesterday's edition of Le Figaro, said 54 percent of voters opposed
the treaty.
The French groups who oppose Turkey's membership cannot publicly base
their opposition on anti-Turkish or anti-Muslim `principles'.
Therefore they use Armenian issue or Morocco to prevent Turkey's
membership.
For many French politicians Turkey cannot be a EU member, because of
Turkey's religion. The rightist and racist groups in many EU
countries are against Turkey's membership and they see no place for
the Muslims in `European civilisation'. Many European countries are
Muslim populated, but none of them EU member, including Turkey,
Albania, Bosnia, Turkish Cyprus and Azerbaijan.
Compiled and prepared by the JTW staff. Includes some info from
Turkish daily News and news agencies.
30 March 2005