TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP ISSUE BECAME A REASON FOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OBAMA AND SARKOZY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.06.2009 13:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ I’ve said publicly that I think Turkish membership
of the EU would be important," Obama told reporters at a joint press
conference with Sarkozy in France before they attended commemorations
for the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in northern France
on Saturday, stating that Sarkozy "has a different view." "What the
US wants to do is just to encourage talks and discussions where
Turkey can feel confident that it has a friendship with France,
with the United States, with all of Europe and to the extent that
it defines itself that it has an opportunity to be a part of that,"
Obama went on, urging France and other European countries to help
efforts to reach out to the Muslim world. "In all of this, I think
that Europe and France have a role to play just as the United States
does, to send a signal to Muslims around the world that we welcome
and want their participation in a world community that is peaceful,
that is prosperous, that is developing in favor of all people."

Sarkozy said France would continue to oppose Turkey’s membership in
the EU, although he said he agreed with Obama that close ties with
Turkey should be maintained. "It’s very important for Europe to have
borders. For me Europe is a force of stability in the world and I
cannot allow that force for stabilization to be destroyed," he said.

08.06.2009 13:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ I’ve said publicly that I think Turkish membership
of the EU would be important," Obama told reporters at a joint press
conference with Sarkozy in France before they attended commemorations
for the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in northern France
on Saturday, stating that Sarkozy "has a different view." "What the
US wants to do is just to encourage talks and discussions where
Turkey can feel confident that it has a friendship with France,
with the United States, with all of Europe and to the extent that
it defines itself that it has an opportunity to be a part of that,"
Obama went on, urging France and other European countries to help
efforts to reach out to the Muslim world. "In all of this, I think
that Europe and France have a role to play just as the United States
does, to send a signal to Muslims around the world that we welcome
and want their participation in a world community that is peaceful,
that is prosperous, that is developing in favor of all people."

Sarkozy said France would continue to oppose Turkey’s membership in
the EU, although he said he agreed with Obama that close ties with
Turkey should be maintained. "It’s very important for Europe to have
borders. For me Europe is a force of stability in the world and I
cannot allow that force for stabilization to be destroyed," he said.