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HOLLANDE IN TURKEY IN BID TO IMPROVE TIES
RFI (English)
January 27, 2014 Monday
French President Francois Hollande, in Turkey for a two day visit
aimed at improving relations between between the two countries,
on Monday attended a ceremony at the mausoleum of modern ...
He then met his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, on what is the
first state visit by a French president in 22 years.
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy's outspoken opposition to
any future membership of the European Union for Turkey strained
relationships between Paris and Ankara.
And relations hit an all-time low after French lawmakers passed a
bill in 2011 making it a crime to deny that the mass killings of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I constituted genocide.
Although the legislation was later declared invalid by France's
constitutional court, it severely damaged business ties.
However France is now keen to benefit from Turkey's economic growth
and Hollande is accompanied by seven cabinet ministers, and a business
delegation.
Deals are expected to be signed in various fields including nuclear
energy and infrastructure projects.
France's share of the Turkish market halved to three percent between
2009 and 2012 just as Turkey was growing as an emerging economic power,
tripling the size of its economy over the 10 years to 2012.
But French companies enjoyed a more successful 2013, sealing deals
in Turkey worth 15 billion euros.
Following his talks in Ankara, Hollande will head to Istanbul
to attend an economic forum bringing together Turkish and French
business leaders.
On the political front, the trip comes at a particularly difficult
time for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is embroiled
in a widening corruption scandal that has implicated members of his
inner circle, including ministers and reportedly his own son.
Erdogan blames his woes on what he says is a coup plot by supporters of
an erstwhile ally, US-exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who hold
positions of influence in many parts of the state apparatus including
the police and courts.
But his response to the graft probe, a wholesale purge of police and
prosecutors and moves to tighten government controls on the judiciary,
has provoked deep concerns about the state of democracy in Turkey.
Hollande is expected to follow the line of European leaders who met
Erdogan on his visit to Brussels last week aimed at advancing Turkey's
EU membership bid.
Paris wants to press home the point that accession talks will not
progress unless Ankara upholds its commitments "to the rule of law,
separation of powers, independence of the judiciary and the respect
for basic freedoms," a presidential source said.
Negotiations between Brussels and the country of 76 million people
only resumed in November; after a three-year freeze.
Hollande has so far deflected questions on his own view towards Turkey,
saying the EU has ruled out membership before 2020, after his first
term in office ends.
This is also President Hollande's first trip abroad since his
announcement on Saturday that he has split from his longstanding
partner Valerie Trierweiler.
RFI (English)
January 27, 2014 Monday
French President Francois Hollande, in Turkey for a two day visit
aimed at improving relations between between the two countries,
on Monday attended a ceremony at the mausoleum of modern ...
He then met his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, on what is the
first state visit by a French president in 22 years.
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy's outspoken opposition to
any future membership of the European Union for Turkey strained
relationships between Paris and Ankara.
And relations hit an all-time low after French lawmakers passed a
bill in 2011 making it a crime to deny that the mass killings of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I constituted genocide.
Although the legislation was later declared invalid by France's
constitutional court, it severely damaged business ties.
However France is now keen to benefit from Turkey's economic growth
and Hollande is accompanied by seven cabinet ministers, and a business
delegation.
Deals are expected to be signed in various fields including nuclear
energy and infrastructure projects.
France's share of the Turkish market halved to three percent between
2009 and 2012 just as Turkey was growing as an emerging economic power,
tripling the size of its economy over the 10 years to 2012.
But French companies enjoyed a more successful 2013, sealing deals
in Turkey worth 15 billion euros.
Following his talks in Ankara, Hollande will head to Istanbul
to attend an economic forum bringing together Turkish and French
business leaders.
On the political front, the trip comes at a particularly difficult
time for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is embroiled
in a widening corruption scandal that has implicated members of his
inner circle, including ministers and reportedly his own son.
Erdogan blames his woes on what he says is a coup plot by supporters of
an erstwhile ally, US-exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who hold
positions of influence in many parts of the state apparatus including
the police and courts.
But his response to the graft probe, a wholesale purge of police and
prosecutors and moves to tighten government controls on the judiciary,
has provoked deep concerns about the state of democracy in Turkey.
Hollande is expected to follow the line of European leaders who met
Erdogan on his visit to Brussels last week aimed at advancing Turkey's
EU membership bid.
Paris wants to press home the point that accession talks will not
progress unless Ankara upholds its commitments "to the rule of law,
separation of powers, independence of the judiciary and the respect
for basic freedoms," a presidential source said.
Negotiations between Brussels and the country of 76 million people
only resumed in November; after a three-year freeze.
Hollande has so far deflected questions on his own view towards Turkey,
saying the EU has ruled out membership before 2020, after his first
term in office ends.
This is also President Hollande's first trip abroad since his
announcement on Saturday that he has split from his longstanding
partner Valerie Trierweiler.