FRENCH ELECTION OVERSHADOWS TURKISH EU BID
Assyrian International News Agency, AINA
source:
April 11 2007
With their EU entry bid at stake, Turks are likely to be watching
the results of the French presidential elections almost as closely
as the French themselves.
Most of the leading candidates oppose Turkish EU entry — with the
exception of Socialist Segolène Royal, who nonetheless has some
serious concerns — and many Turks are worried about further delays
to the accession process.
According to a report in Les Echos, Turks are particularly concerned
that their EU entry bid could become a key campaigning issue, as it
did during the vote on the constitution in 2005.
So far, this has not been the case, but the Turkish media notes that
the French public remains fiercely opposed to Ankara’s entry bid.
The principal reason for this opposition is seen as Turkey’s refusal
to accept its role in the genocide of Armenians during WW1 — a crime
under recent French legislation.
Both Nicolas Sarkozy, the centre-right candidate, and Liberal Francois
Bayrou, have called for Turkey to have a "privileged partnership"
with the EU rather than full membership.
But the Turks argue that this would be little more than the customs
union they already have.
Some observers believe that Sarkozy’s stance could soften as a result
of his close relations with Washington — which backs Turkish entry.
But his current stance — including his calls for a ministry of
immigration and national identity — is described by one Turkish
observer as "flirting with racist ideas".
–Boundary_(ID_kMFKSuxGnLNDeu6CP0+uH A)–
