"TURKISH-FRENCH RELATIONS WERE HARMED" – TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER

Anatolia news agency, Turkey
15 Oct 06

Ankara, 15 October: Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul left for
Luxembourg to attend foreign ministers’ meeting of Turkey-EU Troika.

Gul replied to the questions of reporters prior to his departure from
Ankara’s Esenboga Airport.

Asked whether he considered French President Jacques Chirac (who
telephoned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and said he was
sorry for the adoption of a bill in the French National Assembly that
would make it a crime to deny so-called Armenian genocide) "sincere",
Gul said Erdogan discussed all the issues in question with Chirac.

"We have concerns. Unfortunately Turkish-French relations were
harmed. I hope France will become aware of this," Gul noted.

Gul stated that all the international community and the EU circles
criticized this bill, indicating that, "France is discredited. I hope
French politicians and statesmen will become aware of this and take
necessary measures."

Gul said Turkey would maintain its efforts within the framework of
a programme to prevent the bill become a law. He said many measures
were in question, stating that all those would be discussed in a
special agenda of the Turkish parliament on Tuesday [17 October].

Giving information about the Turkey-EU Troika meeting, Gul said
during his contacts in Luxembourg, he would explain [to] EU executives
Turkey’s expectations as regards to the Progress Report expected to
be made public on 8 November.

Gul said the meeting was important as it takes place immediately
after the screening process and prior to the Progress Report.

Turkish FM indicated that the studies that were fulfilled within the
framework of Turkey’s EU membership and the future studies would be
discussed in detail with the EU partners. He said Turkey’s negotiation
process would be reviewed and at the same time the parties would
exchange views on various regional and international matters.

Gul said the EU party explicitly displayed its will on dialogue and
cooperation with Turkey on various international matters with the
effect of several developments that occurred recently.

"The role that Turkey may play on regional issues and global issues
like the alliance of civilizations become more apparent recently. The
crisis which erupted in the Middle East in July is the best example
for this," Gul added.

Stating that the Troika meeting would take place at a time when
Turkey was passing through an important corner in EU membership
process, Gul said, "to this end, I have no doubt that both parties
would benefit from the meeting in the best way to further improve
Turkish-EU relations."

Gul also said he would have the opportunity to meet foreign ministers
of several EU member countries during his visit to Luxembourg.

Replying to a question about Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code
(TCK), Gul said, "all the ideas, unless they include violence or incite
violence, should be spoken and written in Turkey. It would be injustice
to Turkey to say that people cannot express their views in Turkey."

Gul pointed out that there were several problems stemming from
implementation, and noted that, "we are closely pursuing them. We
will do what is necessary."

"This is a process and we follow the implementation. However, I will
recall the public opinion when I go to the EU. Copenhagen criteria
has already changed with this attitude of France. Turkey is aware
of its deficiencies as a country which is not a full member. We are
exerting efforts to eliminate the deficiencies. We do all those as
our people deserve this," Gul said.

Proposal of Finland

Replying to a question about Cyprus proposal of Finland, Gul said this
country was in good will efforts to find a solution particularly to
Cyprus question and prevent this problem to overshadow the EU process.

Gul said Finland talked about this issue with Turkey before, noting
that, "we said Turkey will welcome every kind of good will efforts.

We will welcome all constructive and objective initiatives. We said
we would cooperate."

Gul said this issue would also be discussed in Luxembourg.

Gul wished the good will steps taken by Turkey to be noticed, and noted
that, "it should not be forgotten that the island has two parties. One
is the Turkish Cypriot party, other is the Greek Cypriot party. The
disagreement is between them. We are not the direct party of the
issue. Thus, everybody should talk to TRNC [self-declared Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus] executives in order to make progress
and to be constructive."

Gul said he hoped Finland would talk to TRNC President Mehmet Ali
Talat to understand the matter better and to convince the parties.