French Minister Haignere Meets Turkish E.U. Adjustment Commission Chairman Yakis

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Feb 14 2005

ANKARA – French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Claudie
Haignere met Yasar Yakis, Chairman of Turkish Parliamentary Adjustment
Commission for the EU, on Monday.

Sources said that French referendum about Turkey’s EU membership and
position of France regarding the so-called Armenian genocide were
discussed during the meeting.

Yakis told Haignere, “it is not possible to understand and explain why
France is going to hold a referendum about Turkey’s EU membership. Such
a referendum will not be held for countries which will join EU in
2007 and for Croatia which is in the same situation with Turkey.”

Commission member Onur Oymen said, “referendum is something against
Turkey. We understand internal policy requirements of France but Turkey
does not want to pay the cost. The referendum will affect negatively
Turkey’s membership (to the EU), as well as Turkish-French friendship.”

Haignere said, “French government is willing to ask for the views
of its citizens about Turkey’s EU membership. Turkey should pursue
reforms which it has fulfilled until today.”

Meanwhile, Oymen said, “during our visit to France, people we met said
if Turkey does not recognize the alleged Armenian genocide, it will
not join the EU. This may affect Turkey-France relations negatively.”