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ANKARA: EU Constitution's Future in the Hands of Turks?

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  • ANKARA: EU Constitution's Future in the Hands of Turks?

    Journal of Turkish Weekly
    May 11 2005

    EU Constitution's Future in the Hands of Turks?


    "There's no correlation between Turkey's membership and the EU
    Constitution" French President Jacques Chirac explained on a live
    television program, and he added that "Europe needs enlargement to be
    strong and to expand the values of democracy and peace." Efe Peker
    from the Dominion reported.

    The need for such clarification stems from pressures by the
    right-wing anti-constitution movement and its placement of Turkey's
    pending EU membership at the centre of its campaign.
    According to recent polls, 70 to 80 per cent of the French public is
    suspicious of the EU's decision in December 2004 to begin formal
    negotiations with Turkey. This discontent may substantially affect
    discussions of a draft EU Constitution. The opposition with the
    Armenian lobby try to show the Constitution referendum as referendum
    for Turkey's EU membership.
    Chirac warned: "I know all too well that there is also a temptation
    to twist the referendum for political gain. The stakes involved in
    the European constitution are national and European."

    Despite having promised that the issue of Turkey's accession will be
    left to a separate French referendum to be held in a decade at the
    end of last year, it seems that Chirac could not prevent the
    association of the EU Constitution to Turkey's entrance into the
    Union.

    As campaigning on both sides of the Constitution debate intensifies,
    French commentators are doubtful about whether the president's `yes
    campaign' will be successful in increasing the 48 per cent to a
    simple majority before May 29th.
    `Turkey issue' has been a crucial topic in French politics for the
    recent years. The Armenian diaspora has a great role in these
    debates. The Armenians in France who are mostly anti-Turkish and
    biased about Turkey, have made anything possible to undermine
    Turkey-France relations. Dr. Sedat Laciner from Ankara-based think
    tank ISRO says `France' Turkey politics has a boomerang effect. The
    wrong policies now hit France itself. If Chirac fails in referendum
    he should question his Turkish policies. He always neglected
    relations with Turkey till 17 December and now pays the cost'.

    Dr. Nilgun Gulcan, another Turkish expert, argues that Armenian
    diaspora with anti-EU groups undermine France's EU policies and
    possible European leadership:

    `There is a strong Armenian diaspora in France and they are abused by
    the anti-European groups. They use the militant Armenians in order to
    prevent a European federation. It is unfortunate that French leaders
    preferred Armenia to Turkey in the past and neglected Turkish
    friendship. There is a strong mistrust in Turkish and French peoples
    now and French politicians have to accept that they are responsible
    for that.'
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