Turkish Press
July 14 2005
Press Review
AKSAM
FRENCH MEP: `TURKEY DOESN’T BELONG IN THE EU’
European Parliament Deputy and French Democrat Jacques Toubon
yesterday sharply criticized chief Turkish negotiator for EU talks
Ali Babacan’s testimony earlier this week before the EP’s Foreign
Affairs Committee. `Turkey should fulfill a number of criteria to
start its membership talks,’ Toubon said. `Babacan failed to say
anything meaningful about such sensitive issues as Cyprus, Armenia,
minority rights and religious freedom.’ Toubon further claimed that
Turkey does not belong in the EU as it has completely different
political and cultural values. Toubon’s criticism was seen by some as
insolence and showing disrespect for Babacan, because the French MEP
also said that he hadn’t understood anything that the Turkish
official said. /Aksam/