U.S., GREAT BRITAIN, SPAIN AND ITALY PREPARE TO EXPLAIN STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF TURKEY TO FRANCE

Noyan Tapan
May 21 2007

MADRID, MAY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Spain, Italy, Great Britain and
U.S. supporting Turkey’s membership to the European Union will ecplain
the strategic importance of Turkey to France. Alberto Navarro, the
Secretary of State on Relations with European Union of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Spain made such a statement relating to the
statements made by newly-elected President of France Nicolas Sarkozy
concerning hindering from Turkey’s membership to the EU.

Alberto Navarro expressed an opinion that Turkey becomes more and
more European day by day: "France has an important meaning for Europe
because of what one must reckon with it. But Spain, England, Italy
and U.S. will explain the strategic meaning and importance of Turkey
to France. We hope that Sarkozy will change his viewpoint during the
time," he said.

To recap, Prime Minister of Spain Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero met
on May 31 in Madrid with President of France Nicolas Sarkozy.