Ana sayfa
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Turkish Defense Minister’s words prompt French official to leave salon

Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, speaking at the opening of the 8th
Defense Industry Trade Fair, reportedly provoked French Military
Attache Lieutenant Jean Claude Gaey to leave the salon where Gonul
was speaking.

The French Military Attache Gaey was reportedly reacting in anger
to words spoken by Gonul which appeared to cast doubt on whether
French military officers had been invited to the trade fair: "We
were all upset by the parliamentary approval of the Amernian bill
in France. But we will of course continue our relations with France
in NATO and on other international platforms. We will come together
at other meetings too. The French Defense Minister is a valuable
government member. But the French Defense Minister has not been
formally invited here. We sent invitations to other countries."

When a reported noted afterwards to Minister Gonul that the official
list of invitees included the French Defense Minister, Gonul responded
"I don’t know about the list you are holding; but when looked at the
list of people sitting to watch the cinevision, I was relieved not
to see the French in row 21. We don’t want to do the wrong thing."

French Attache Gaey commented to reporters after leaving the salon
in the wake of Gonul’s speech: "An invitation came to me from the
retired General who heads the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. But
after hearing the minister’s words, I realized that staying here for
meetings was useless. Which is why I am leaving."

Earlier this week, General Ilker Basbug of the Turkish Land Force
asserted during celebrations for the founding of Northern Cyprus
that for now, Turkish and French formal military relations had been
"shelved."