Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 11 2009

Economic crisis threatens ‘Season of Turkey’ in France

A number of French companies that had pledged sponsorship for a major
event in France aimed at strengthening ties with Turkey have withdrawn
their contributions due to financial problems stemming from the
ongoing global economic crisis.

The event, called the "Season of Turkey," will feature exhibitions,
concerts and other activities promoting Turkey, running from July 2009
— right after elections for the European Parliament — through the
end of March 2010. Turkey has committed 13 million euros to the event
in addition to France’s contribution of around 5 million euros, 2
million of which will be provided through the sponsorship of private
French companies with investments in Turkey.

Yet organizers have voiced disappointment, saying they haven’t been
able to find as many sponsors as expected, apparently due to the
global economic crisis.

French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroën and bailed-out Belgian bank
Dexia SA have withdrawn their sponsorship pledges for the
event. Meanwhile, French businesses such as oil giant Total, energy
transmission and distribution company AREVA, Accor hotel group and the
nation’s largest bank, BNP Paribas SA stand as the largest
contributors, while Renault SA, France’s second-largest carmaker,
which has made major investments in Turkey, will keep the amount of
its contribution relatively low.

Stanislas Pierret, a French organizer of the event, said organizers
expect Turkey to take action to find more funding for the event. For
his part, Görgün Taner, head of the İstanbul Foundation for Culture
and Arts (Ä°KSV) and a participant in the organization of the event,
said French officials have been active in efforts to make the Season
of Turkey a success. "It would be much better if the crisis hadn’t
happened," Taner added.

Ties with France have deteriorated in recent years over a French
Parliament decision to recognize Armenian claims of genocide at the
hands of the Ottoman Empire and its subsequent attempts to criminalize
any denial of the alleged genocide. Ties are also strained over French
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s outright objection to Turkey’s accession
to the European Union, proposing instead a Turkish involvement in a
separate Union of the Mediterranean with nations having close ties to
the EU. The Season of Turkey, organized in an effort to ease tension
between the two nations, will be marked with an official ceremony in
October, at which Sarkozy and Turkish President Abdullah Gül will be
present.

11 March 2009, Wednesday
ALI Ä°HSAN AYDIN PARIS