Chirac under fire over stance on Turkey’s bid
By John Thornhill in Paris

FT
December 16 2004 20:16

Jacques Chirac, France’s president, was fiercely criticised by his
own supporters on Thursday after he reiterated his strong support
for Turkey’s entry to the European Union.

Several politicians also warned that the domestic row over Turkey
could jeopardise the chances of France approving the EU’s constitution
in next year’s referendum. Each EU member state must approve the
constitution before it can come into force.

On Wednesday night, Mr Chirac gave a rare television interview
explaining why he supported Turkey’s bid. He said it was vital to pull
Turkey towards democracy, stability and prosperity in Europe. The EU
should encourage Turkey to join the 25-member organisation so long
as it fulfilled the necessary conditions and promised a referendum
on Turkey’s membership when it is on the verge of joining, probably
in 10 to 20 years’ time.

The French president also rejected the idea of offering Turkey a
“privileged partnership” with the EU, suggesting it would be demeaning
for such an important country.

Members of Mr Chirac’s UMP party, who have supported the idea of just
such a “privileged partnership”, yesterday reacted with dismay to
the president’s stance. Some observers suggested his position could
also cloud any plans he still had of seeking a third presidential
term in 2007.

Alain Madelin, a former government minister and UMP deputy, said he
deplored the president’s failure to take account of “any democratic
debate, or any vote”. He said it was incredible for the president
to take such a momentous decision on his own personal initiative and
only allow voters to have a say in a refe rendum in many years’ time.

Nicolas Sarkozy, UMP party president and potential rival for the
French presidency in 2007, said Mr Chirac created an “incontestable
difficulty” given that 72 per cent of party members were opposed
to Turkey’s entry. Mr Sarkozy, speaking in Israel just before Mr
Chirac’s interview, said Turkey’s accession would dilute the EU’s
effectiveness. “The more numerous we are, the less integrated we
become. Mr The less integrated we are, the weaker we become.”

But Mr Chirac did receive some support on Thursday from an unlikely
quarter: the leadership of the opposition socialists. “Jacques Chirac
has had the merit of being clear, that’s to say that he has come
round to the position of the European Commission and the position
of the Socialist party as well,” said Ségolène Royal, a prominent
Socialist leader.

But even the Socialist party has its divisions on the Turkey
issue. Robert Badinter, a Socialist senator, denounced Mr Chirac’s
“capitulation” to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish prime minister, over
Cyprus and the recognition of the Armenian genocide. “Everything
that displeased Mr Erdogan has been withdrawn at the start of the
negotiation. That is called a capitulation before even embarking on
a negotiation,” he told French TV.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress