FRANCE’S ATTITUDE CHANGING COPENHAGEN POLITICAL CRITERIA
By Suleyman Kurt

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 16 2006

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has criticized France for its Armenian
genocide denial bill, claiming that France’s attitude has changed
the Copenhagen political criteria.

Minister Gul arrived in Luxembourg yesterday to attend the "Turkey-EU
troika" meeting, where Turkey’s reform process and additional protocol
will be discussed.

Gul will mention his views on the Armenian genocide bill, while the
EU side is expected to reiterate its request for Turkey to fulfill
the additional protocol.

Current EU term president Finland’s Cyprus plan will also be on the
agenda. The Turkish side will most likely stipulate improving Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus access to the outside world, as well as
modifications to some points regarding the start of negotiations to
open ports.

Asked if Turkey had changed its stance regarding Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code, Gul said that as long as the opinions expressed
do not advocate violence, people could freely express their thoughts
in Turkey.

Before leaving for Luxembourg, Gul told reporters that he would remind
the EU side that France’s current attitude had changed the Copenhagen
political criteria.

"Turkey is not a full member of the EU and it is aware of what it is
lacking. …. We are a country that is exerting extreme efforts to
eliminate such shortcomings," Gul said.

Gul informed reporters that he had communicated the concerns of Turkish
Prime Minister Reccep Tayyip Erdogan to French President Jacques Chirac
in a telephone conversation, emphasizing that both the international
community and the EU has criticized the recent developments in France.

Turkish-French relations have suffered a great blow and France’s
prestige has been damaged, Gul said, expressing optimism that French
politicians would realize the severity of the situation and take
appropriate measures.

In regards to Finland’s Cyprus proposal, Gul recalled that there were
two sides on the island, Turkish Cyprus and Greek Cyprus, and added
that a solution approved by both sides would be favored.