Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Dec 19 2008

France says no need to worry about Turkey-EU relations in 2009

Brussels, France’s Secretary of State for EU affairs Bruno Le Marie
said on Friday [19 December] that "there was nothing to worry about,"
regarding EU-Turkey relations in 2009.

Speaking during EU’s 6th Accession Conference, Le Marie said EU
expected Turkey to proceed with the reform process, be loyal to
neighbourly relations and fulfil its commitments regarding Cyprus.

He said Turkey bore high strategic importance for EU noting that it
contributed to EU’s stability by taking up an active role in solution
of regional problems and acting in line with EU’s foreign policy for
the most part.

Le Marie praised the role played by Turkey in the conflict in Georgia,
Iraq, Middle East peace process, and in indirect talks between Israel
and Syria. He said Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia
had a symbolic significance and expressed their hope that this process
would result in complete normalization of relations between the two
countries.

Also speaking during the conference EU Commissioner for Enlargement
Olli Rehn said EU needed to act fairly towards Turkey and be loyal to
its commitments.

Rehn pointed out that it was important for Turkey to carry out the
reform process after two tough years and said they expected Turkey to
meet the criteria in chapters regarding taxation, social policy and
employment, environment and competition which were likely to be opened
in the near future.

Rehn said there was a positive atmosphere recently in EU-Turkey
relations noting that the conflict in Georgia highlighted Turkey’s
strategic importance.