French Embassy Denies Existence of ‘Chirac Letter’

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Aug 12 2005

ANKARA – Officials from the French Embassy in Ankara denied the
existence of a letter written by French President Jacques Chirac,
in which he assured the Greek Cypriots that the European Union would
not start accession negotiations with Turkey unless it recognizes
Greek Cyprus.

Greek Cypriot daily “Philelefteros” reported on Tuesday that Chirac had
sent a handwritten letter to Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos,
through the Greek Cypriot ambassador in France. According to
“Philelefteros”, the letter stated that the French government believed
Turkey would not be able to start accession talks with the EU on
October 3 if it does not recognise the Greek Cypriot administration.

GREEK OR FRENCH LIE?

However “there is no such letter”, a French Embassy official said.
Turkish media reported the event as “Greek lie”.

Recently, Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister, George Iacovou said
Turkey’s refusal to recognise the Greek Cypriot government was
“provocative”. However, Iacovou refused to say whether non-recognition
of Greek Cyprus could lead to Greek Cyprus, or another EU country,
vetoing the start of accession talks on October 3. All EU leaders
including the Greek Cypriot leader knew on 17 December Summit that
Turkey will not recognise Greek Cyprus until the problem is solved on
the island. Yet the ‘unexpected’ French support to the Greek side has
shifted the balance. Turkey blames France of not keeping its promises
given in the Summit.

According to “Philelefteros”, the Greek Cypriot and Greek governments
have been holding talks after what Iacovou called a “shift” in France’s
stance towards the issue of Turkish recognition of the Greek Cypriot
administration. The Greek Cypriot daily said the two sides may hold
a top-level meeting to evaluate the present situation and devise a
common foreign policy.

Recently, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and French
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said it was “unacceptable” for
Turkey to start accession negotiations, without recognizing one the
EU’s member states. Chirac, who has the final say in foreign policy
matters, is said to have backed these comments. Ankara reacted to
the statements, claiming that the recognition of Greek Cyprus is not
a condition for starting EU entry talks. Though the EU laws did not
allow accepting any candidate as a member when it has border problems,
the EU accepted only the Greek Cyprus as a full member to the EU. The
Turkish side strongly supported the UN Peace Plan in 2004 while the
Greek side rejected the plan. The EU with the US and UN promised to
end isolation of the TRNC yet has done almost nothing to do so.

Dr. Davut Sahiner from ISRO Center for European Studies, Ankara says
France is not sincere in its Cyprus policy. “Their only aim is to
keep Turkey outside of the EU. They first abused the Armenian issue
and made everything a mess in Turkey-Armenia relations. Now the
Cyprus.” Added Dr. Sahiner.

“Anti-Turkish political groups in France blame Turkey for going bad
anything in EU and France. They do not want to see Turkey in. In fact
an EU-member Turkey would be great for the Greeks and Armenians as
well” said Dr. Davut Sahiner