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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Oct 7 2011
Sarkozy insists: Turkey not part of EU
07 October 2011, Friday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on a tour of Caucasus countries,
repeated his well-known opposition to Turkey's membership in the
European Union on Friday, saying his country does not consider Turkey
a part of the 27-nation bloc.
`Located in Asia Minor, Turkey has an important role in the world. It
is a bridge between the East and the West,' Sarkozy was quoted by the
Anatolia news agency as saying at a news conference during his visit
to Armenia, his first stop on his Caucasus trip. `But this role is
outside the EU. France does not see Turkey in the EU.'
Sarkozy, who has said he wants Turkey to be given special partnership
status with the EU rather than full membership, is regarded by many
Turks as the embodiment of European prejudice towards a Muslim
country. The French leader, who seeks to boost his ratings before an
April presidential election, said Turkey was `successful,' apparently
in reference to its growing activism in the region. `But my thoughts
on Turkey's EU membership have not changed and there is no reason why
they should change,' Sarkozy was quoted as saying.
During his visit to Armenia, Sarkozy also urged Turkey to recognize
the 1915 killings of Armenians as genocide, threatening to pass a law
in France that would make denying this a crime. `The Armenian genocide
is a historical reality. Collective denial is even worse than
individual denial,' Sarkozy told reporters. `Turkey, which is a great
country, would honor itself to revisit its history like other great
countries in the world have done.'
Turkey, in response, said France should confront its colonial past
before giving lessons to others on how to face history. `Those who
will not be able to face their own history for having carried out
colonialism for centuries, for treating foreigners as second-class
people, do not have the right to teach Turkey a history lesson or call
for Turkey to face its history,' Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu told
reporters on Friday.
Oct 7 2011
Sarkozy insists: Turkey not part of EU
07 October 2011, Friday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on a tour of Caucasus countries,
repeated his well-known opposition to Turkey's membership in the
European Union on Friday, saying his country does not consider Turkey
a part of the 27-nation bloc.
`Located in Asia Minor, Turkey has an important role in the world. It
is a bridge between the East and the West,' Sarkozy was quoted by the
Anatolia news agency as saying at a news conference during his visit
to Armenia, his first stop on his Caucasus trip. `But this role is
outside the EU. France does not see Turkey in the EU.'
Sarkozy, who has said he wants Turkey to be given special partnership
status with the EU rather than full membership, is regarded by many
Turks as the embodiment of European prejudice towards a Muslim
country. The French leader, who seeks to boost his ratings before an
April presidential election, said Turkey was `successful,' apparently
in reference to its growing activism in the region. `But my thoughts
on Turkey's EU membership have not changed and there is no reason why
they should change,' Sarkozy was quoted as saying.
During his visit to Armenia, Sarkozy also urged Turkey to recognize
the 1915 killings of Armenians as genocide, threatening to pass a law
in France that would make denying this a crime. `The Armenian genocide
is a historical reality. Collective denial is even worse than
individual denial,' Sarkozy told reporters. `Turkey, which is a great
country, would honor itself to revisit its history like other great
countries in the world have done.'
Turkey, in response, said France should confront its colonial past
before giving lessons to others on how to face history. `Those who
will not be able to face their own history for having carried out
colonialism for centuries, for treating foreigners as second-class
people, do not have the right to teach Turkey a history lesson or call
for Turkey to face its history,' Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu told
reporters on Friday.