SARKOZY DISPLAYS HARD STANCE AGAINST TURKISH EU MEMBERSHIP IN LETTER TO ARMENIANS

Hurriyet, Turkey
April 25 2007

Nikolas Sarkozy, the leading candidate for president following the
first round of French presidential elections, has written a letter
to the Armenian community in France, making promises about France’s
committment to recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide, as
well as taking a stong stance against potential Turkish membership
in the EU.

Part of Sarkozy’s letter, which was sent to the Armenian Foundations
Coordination Council, said "France has officially recognized the
Armenian genocide, and this law holds for everyone. France violently
condemns every kind of provocation and discrimination against
ethnicities of any kind……We are a republic which respects the
honor and memory of the Armenians, and as a state, we will never bow
to pressure on this front."

Later in the letter, Sarkozy talks about his views on possible Turkish
membership in the EU: "Let me tell you the truth: I am against Turkish
EU membership. The real problem lies with Turkey; I cannot tell
young French school students that Europe’s borders lie along Syria
and Iraq. If we accept Turkey then, putting aside the Ukraine for a
moment, we have to accept Lebanon, Israel, and the Magrib. If Europe
really wants to give off a sense of security, then its borders must
be defined. We should deepen our relations with Turkey, but not to
the point of EU membership. What we need is an urgent declaration of
‘privileged partnership’ with Turkey……"

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress