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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Nov 2 2014
`Hollande spring' not bearing fruit
November 02, 2014, Sunday/ 17:38:00/ EMRE DEMÄ°R / ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an's much-anticipated visit to Paris on
Friday failed to produce any tangible results as President François
Hollande did not move to open any of the four European Union
negotiation chapters currently blocked by France.
President Hollande's rise to power brought about a promise of a
`spring period' in relations between the two countries, after
relations hit rock bottom during the tenure of the previous president,
Nicolas Sarkozy. However, after Hollande's Ankara visit in January and
ErdoÄ?an's recent visit to Paris there has not been any real progress.
France continues to block four of Turkey's remaining EU negotiation
chapters. Turkey, on the other hand, continues to allow France a share
of its energy and defense contracts.
Turkish diplomats in Paris continue to reiterate that relations `have
never been better.' As for the French, they indicate that they `aren't
ready to accept the [Bashar al-] Assad regime as a secondary problem'
and that France fosters a partnership with Turkey regarding the Middle
East. Events in Syria and other bilateral developments have brought
Turkey and France closer together. The most obvious result in the
convergence between the two countries regarding the war in Syria would
be that France is the only Western ally to adopt the `buffer zone'
option.
But despite the importance attached to the meeting on the part of the
Turkish side, the visit to France has failed to yield any meaningful
result. Before the meeting, Paris was hopeful for a statement
indicating Turkey's missile defense system contract would go to French
firms, while Turkey was hopeful for France unblocking four EU
negotiation chapters. Hence, after unsuccessful negotiations,
President ErdoÄ?an's statement to Hollande at the press conference
stood out, saying: `We are waiting for a gesture from you regarding
this issue. We want to return to Turkey with good news.' President
ErdoÄ?an's tactic, normally used to draw promises out of building
contractors at grand openings for future projects, was not enough to
entice the French president.
President Hollande refrained from talking about the four chapters
blocked by France while mentioning Chapter 23 regarding the judiciary
and fundamental rights and Chapter 24 regarding justice, freedom and
security, which is blocked by Cyprus.
Hollande therefore both gave the message that the chapters blocked
during his predecessor Sarkozy would not be opened, while indirectly
criticizing Turkey's decline in judicial independence and fundamental
rights.
Hollande looks for investment in Turkey
Hollande's policy of close ties with Turkey is part of the economic
diplomacy doctrine to advance the investments of French firms. Instead
of an EU candidate country such as Turkey, Hollande prefers to regard
countries such as Qatar, China and Russia as economic partners. After
the Sinop nuclear power plant contract, French firms are interested in
energy contracts such as the TANAP gas pipeline. A $4 billion missile
contact previously given to China is now being negotiated to be given
to France.
The second reason France is warming up relations with Turkey is its
desire to be more effective in the Middle Eastern equation. By
engaging in seemingly riskless strategies such as the buffer zone
proposed by ErdoÄ?an, the French leader wants to obtain a new card
through his influence over Turkey.
The alliance with the French, especially during a period when ties
with America and Germany are tense, is very important for ErdoÄ?an.
Hollande, however, is keeping relations with Turkey behind the curtain
due to fears of criticism from the French public.
Next year is the centenary of the alleged Armenian genocide in 1915.
President Hollande promised to pass laws punishing those who deny the
genocide. How these concepts will affect Turkish-French relations
remains to be seen.
http://www.todayszaman.com/_hollande-spring-not-bearing-fruit_363329.html
Nov 2 2014
`Hollande spring' not bearing fruit
November 02, 2014, Sunday/ 17:38:00/ EMRE DEMÄ°R / ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an's much-anticipated visit to Paris on
Friday failed to produce any tangible results as President François
Hollande did not move to open any of the four European Union
negotiation chapters currently blocked by France.
President Hollande's rise to power brought about a promise of a
`spring period' in relations between the two countries, after
relations hit rock bottom during the tenure of the previous president,
Nicolas Sarkozy. However, after Hollande's Ankara visit in January and
ErdoÄ?an's recent visit to Paris there has not been any real progress.
France continues to block four of Turkey's remaining EU negotiation
chapters. Turkey, on the other hand, continues to allow France a share
of its energy and defense contracts.
Turkish diplomats in Paris continue to reiterate that relations `have
never been better.' As for the French, they indicate that they `aren't
ready to accept the [Bashar al-] Assad regime as a secondary problem'
and that France fosters a partnership with Turkey regarding the Middle
East. Events in Syria and other bilateral developments have brought
Turkey and France closer together. The most obvious result in the
convergence between the two countries regarding the war in Syria would
be that France is the only Western ally to adopt the `buffer zone'
option.
But despite the importance attached to the meeting on the part of the
Turkish side, the visit to France has failed to yield any meaningful
result. Before the meeting, Paris was hopeful for a statement
indicating Turkey's missile defense system contract would go to French
firms, while Turkey was hopeful for France unblocking four EU
negotiation chapters. Hence, after unsuccessful negotiations,
President ErdoÄ?an's statement to Hollande at the press conference
stood out, saying: `We are waiting for a gesture from you regarding
this issue. We want to return to Turkey with good news.' President
ErdoÄ?an's tactic, normally used to draw promises out of building
contractors at grand openings for future projects, was not enough to
entice the French president.
President Hollande refrained from talking about the four chapters
blocked by France while mentioning Chapter 23 regarding the judiciary
and fundamental rights and Chapter 24 regarding justice, freedom and
security, which is blocked by Cyprus.
Hollande therefore both gave the message that the chapters blocked
during his predecessor Sarkozy would not be opened, while indirectly
criticizing Turkey's decline in judicial independence and fundamental
rights.
Hollande looks for investment in Turkey
Hollande's policy of close ties with Turkey is part of the economic
diplomacy doctrine to advance the investments of French firms. Instead
of an EU candidate country such as Turkey, Hollande prefers to regard
countries such as Qatar, China and Russia as economic partners. After
the Sinop nuclear power plant contract, French firms are interested in
energy contracts such as the TANAP gas pipeline. A $4 billion missile
contact previously given to China is now being negotiated to be given
to France.
The second reason France is warming up relations with Turkey is its
desire to be more effective in the Middle Eastern equation. By
engaging in seemingly riskless strategies such as the buffer zone
proposed by ErdoÄ?an, the French leader wants to obtain a new card
through his influence over Turkey.
The alliance with the French, especially during a period when ties
with America and Germany are tense, is very important for ErdoÄ?an.
Hollande, however, is keeping relations with Turkey behind the curtain
due to fears of criticism from the French public.
Next year is the centenary of the alleged Armenian genocide in 1915.
President Hollande promised to pass laws punishing those who deny the
genocide. How these concepts will affect Turkish-French relations
remains to be seen.
http://www.todayszaman.com/_hollande-spring-not-bearing-fruit_363329.html