FRANCE CALLS FOR SUSPENSION OF EU-TURKEY TALKS

Yerkir
11.09.2006 12:10

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – French Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy on Friday
called for the suspension of EU membership talks with Turkey unless
Ankara changes its stance on Cyprus. Sarkozy, a front-runner ahead
of next year’s French presidential election, specifically called for
a break in accession talks while Turkey persists with its embargo
against Cypriot ships using its ports.

Turkey signed in July 2005 a protocol extending its customs accord with
the EU to the 10 new states that joined in 2004, including the island
of Cyprus, which Ankara refuses to recognize. But its Parliament has
yet to ratify the document and Ankara continues to block the access
of Cypriot ships.

"I call for the suspension of opening new adhesion chapters with
Turkey while it has not ratified and clearly has not implemented the
Ankara protocol (customs agreement)," he said in a speech.

"The geographical and political map of the EU" should be fixed, with
the bloc open to states which are "clearly part of the continent of
Europe" he said, citing Switzerland, Norway and the Balkan states,
reported Agenece France Presse.