Tweet
FRENCH PRESIDENT PAYS HISTORIC VISIT TO TURKEY AFTER 22 YEARS
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 27 2014
ANKARA - Hurriyet Daily News
b y Sevil ErkuÅ~_
The visit will also be Hollande's first after announcing his split
with long-time partner Valérie Treilweiler. AFP photo
French President Francois Hollande arrived in Turkey today for an
official visit, the first by a French head of state in 22 years,
with official talks in Ankara aiming to promote bilateral ties after
they regressed under former leader Nicolas Sarkozy.
Ankara's agenda for the talks will focus on opening EU accession
chapters 17, 22 and 23 during Greece's EU presidency, which runs
through June 30. However, France is known to be hesitant about
opening chapter 17, regulating economic and monetary policies, which
is directly related to full accession and could create difficulties
for Hollande in domestic politics given that his popularity level at
home is low ahead of local elections in March.
When Hollande came to power in 2012, his government resumed accession
talks between Turkey and the EU, lifting its block on one negotiation
chapter to kick-start relations between Ankara and the EU. Chapter
22 on regional policies, which was opened in fall 2013, paved the
way for the resumption of negotiations after a three-year hiatus.
However, recent political turmoil in Turkey since the Dec. 17, 2013,
graft probe has raised concerns in the EU, as German Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier cautioned the Turkish government last week
against recent purges of the police and the bureaucracy, urging Ankara
to return to the "practices of the rule of law" while warning that the
"opening of new chapters could get difficult."
Another topic that is expected to be high on Ankara's agenda will be
developments in Syria. Turkish leaders and Hollande will exchange
views on the ongoing Geneva II peace conference. The resumption of
talks in Cyprus is set to be another topic.
Hollande will be accompanied by France's foreign, foreign trade,
defense, energy, agriculture and energy ministers. Several agreements
such as transportation and security will be signed during the visit,
a Turkish diplomat told the Hurriyet Daily News. The French president,
from the Socialist Party, will also meet Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, leader
of the Republican People's Party (CHP). Both parties are members of
the Socialist International.
Following his talks in Ankara, Hollande will travel to Istanbul to
deliver a speech at Galatasaray University. Hollande and President
Abdullah Gul will also participate in an economic forum bringing
together Turkish and French business leaders.
France is currently the sixth biggest investor in Turkey; since
Hollande came to power, bilateral trade has displayed an uptick, with
the Turkish government opting for a Japanese-French joint venture led
by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and France's Areva to build Turkey's
second nuclear power plant in Sinop.
Hollande is also expected to meet with Rakel Dink, the widow of
Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated seven
years ago. Debate over the Armenian genocide has long poisoned
relations between the two countries, with French lawmakers trying
to endorse a law criminalizing the denial of claims of genocide,
contributing to the deterioration of bilateral relations.
January/27/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/minorities-legal-entity-issues-to-be-discussed-in-istanbul-conference.aspx?pageID=238&nID=61570&NewsCatID=339
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 27 2014
ANKARA - Hurriyet Daily News
b y Sevil ErkuÅ~_
The visit will also be Hollande's first after announcing his split
with long-time partner Valérie Treilweiler. AFP photo
French President Francois Hollande arrived in Turkey today for an
official visit, the first by a French head of state in 22 years,
with official talks in Ankara aiming to promote bilateral ties after
they regressed under former leader Nicolas Sarkozy.
Ankara's agenda for the talks will focus on opening EU accession
chapters 17, 22 and 23 during Greece's EU presidency, which runs
through June 30. However, France is known to be hesitant about
opening chapter 17, regulating economic and monetary policies, which
is directly related to full accession and could create difficulties
for Hollande in domestic politics given that his popularity level at
home is low ahead of local elections in March.
When Hollande came to power in 2012, his government resumed accession
talks between Turkey and the EU, lifting its block on one negotiation
chapter to kick-start relations between Ankara and the EU. Chapter
22 on regional policies, which was opened in fall 2013, paved the
way for the resumption of negotiations after a three-year hiatus.
However, recent political turmoil in Turkey since the Dec. 17, 2013,
graft probe has raised concerns in the EU, as German Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier cautioned the Turkish government last week
against recent purges of the police and the bureaucracy, urging Ankara
to return to the "practices of the rule of law" while warning that the
"opening of new chapters could get difficult."
Another topic that is expected to be high on Ankara's agenda will be
developments in Syria. Turkish leaders and Hollande will exchange
views on the ongoing Geneva II peace conference. The resumption of
talks in Cyprus is set to be another topic.
Hollande will be accompanied by France's foreign, foreign trade,
defense, energy, agriculture and energy ministers. Several agreements
such as transportation and security will be signed during the visit,
a Turkish diplomat told the Hurriyet Daily News. The French president,
from the Socialist Party, will also meet Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, leader
of the Republican People's Party (CHP). Both parties are members of
the Socialist International.
Following his talks in Ankara, Hollande will travel to Istanbul to
deliver a speech at Galatasaray University. Hollande and President
Abdullah Gul will also participate in an economic forum bringing
together Turkish and French business leaders.
France is currently the sixth biggest investor in Turkey; since
Hollande came to power, bilateral trade has displayed an uptick, with
the Turkish government opting for a Japanese-French joint venture led
by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and France's Areva to build Turkey's
second nuclear power plant in Sinop.
Hollande is also expected to meet with Rakel Dink, the widow of
Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated seven
years ago. Debate over the Armenian genocide has long poisoned
relations between the two countries, with French lawmakers trying
to endorse a law criminalizing the denial of claims of genocide,
contributing to the deterioration of bilateral relations.
January/27/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/minorities-legal-entity-issues-to-be-discussed-in-istanbul-conference.aspx?pageID=238&nID=61570&NewsCatID=339