FRANCE IS NOT WELCOMED IN TURKISH DEFENCE FAIR

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Nov 20 2006

* Turkish Defense Minister’s words prompt French official to leave
salon

ANKARA – Turkish 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, Turkish General Ilker Basbug of the Turkish
Land Force asserted during celebrations for the founding of Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) that for now, Turkish and French
formal military relations had been "shelved."

Turkey has been decreasing the level of the relations with France at
all sectors. Turkish consumer unions started to boycott the French
companies. Turkish media reported that France has prefered the
Armenians instead of Turkey.