SARKOZY: IT WAS DISHONEST TO PROMISE FULL EU MEMBERSHIP TO ANKARA

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.11.2007 19:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ French President Nicolas Sarkozy told senior Euro
MPs that he opposes full Turkish membership of the EU.

The statement – in response to questions from Socialist Group leader
Martin Schulz – led to concern for progress in EU-Turkey relations
during next year’s French Presidency of the EU Council.

Speaking to leaders of the European Parliament’s political groups in
Strasbourg, Mr Sarkozy said that he offered privileged partnership
status to Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan during bilateral talks.

He declared that he would hold talks only on issues linked to Turkish
association with the EU and would close five chapters related to
potential long-term Turkish membership in the European Union. "It
was dishonest to promise full membership to Ankara," he said.

Mr Schulz, who took part in the talks with Mr Sarkozy, said: "The
French President’s position was direct. He said that for him, Europe
has clear borders and that that he considered the territory of Turkey
to be predominantly in Asia Minor."

Asked by Mr Schulz if he would stop accession talks during the French
Presidency, Mr Sarkozy replied: "I will only support measures that
will not lead to full membership."

For his part, Mr Schulz said: "Turkey is an important country and it
is in the EU’s interests to have strong relations with Ankara. The
perspective of EU membership in the long term has led to far-reaching
reforms in the country already and will produce further advances.

"The very fact that the EU is negotiating on Turkish membership gives
an important signal to the whole of the Muslim world. To end those
talks abruptly under the French presidency would be a damaging step
backwards," he said, ABHaber reports.