Journal of Turkish Weekly
May 11 2005
EU Constitution’s Future in the Hands of Turks?
“There’s no correlation between Turkey’s membership and the EU
Constitution” French President Jacques Chirac explained on a live
television program, and he added that “Europe needs enlargement to be
strong and to expand the values of democracy and peace.” Efe Peker
from the Dominion reported.
The need for such clarification stems from pressures by the
right-wing anti-constitution movement and its placement of Turkey’s
pending EU membership at the centre of its campaign.
According to recent polls, 70 to 80 per cent of the French public is
suspicious of the EU’s decision in December 2004 to begin formal
negotiations with Turkey. This discontent may substantially affect
discussions of a draft EU Constitution. The opposition with the
Armenian lobby try to show the Constitution referendum as referendum
for Turkey’s EU membership.
Chirac warned: “I know all too well that there is also a temptation
to twist the referendum for political gain. The stakes involved in
the European constitution are national and European.”
Despite having promised that the issue of Turkey’s accession will be
left to a separate French referendum to be held in a decade at the
end of last year, it seems that Chirac could not prevent the
association of the EU Constitution to Turkey’s entrance into the
Union.
As campaigning on both sides of the Constitution debate intensifies,
French commentators are doubtful about whether the president’s `yes
campaign’ will be successful in increasing the 48 per cent to a
simple majority before May 29th.
`Turkey issue’ has been a crucial topic in French politics for the
recent years. The Armenian diaspora has a great role in these
debates. The Armenians in France who are mostly anti-Turkish and
biased about Turkey, have made anything possible to undermine
Turkey-France relations. Dr. Sedat Laciner from Ankara-based think
tank ISRO says `France’ Turkey politics has a boomerang effect. The
wrong policies now hit France itself. If Chirac fails in referendum
he should question his Turkish policies. He always neglected
relations with Turkey till 17 December and now pays the cost’.
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan, another Turkish expert, argues that Armenian
diaspora with anti-EU groups undermine France’s EU policies and
possible European leadership:
`There is a strong Armenian diaspora in France and they are abused by
the anti-European groups. They use the militant Armenians in order to
prevent a European federation. It is unfortunate that French leaders
preferred Armenia to Turkey in the past and neglected Turkish
friendship. There is a strong mistrust in Turkish and French peoples
now and French politicians have to accept that they are responsible
for that.’