FIRST-CLASS WELCOME AWAITS TURKISH PRESIDENT, SAYS FRENCH AMBASSADOR
Hurriyet Daily News
Wednesday, October 07 2009 13:42 GMT+2
France is preparing an elaborate welcome of the highest caliber for
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, even though his three-day trip will
be a working visit, according to a top French envoy.
"Gul’s visit to France in this format will be the first since
1998. It’s quite telling. The program is full and we attach great
importance to the president’s visit," French Ambassador to Turkey
Bernard Emié told a small group of journalists on Tuesday.
Gul will depart Wednesday afternoon for France, where he will
inaugurate the official kickoff of the Turkey Season in France with
French President Nicholas Sarkozy. Gul will receive special treatment
in Paris where Sarkozy will host him at a working luncheon at the
Elysée Palace.
Sarkozy is known for his opposition to Turkey’s full membership in the
European Union, stirring up already fraught bilateral relations due
to France’s recognition of the alleged Armenian genocide. Political
relations endured hard times last spring before the European Parliament
elections, when Turkey was used as a political bargaining chip by the
Turkey-skeptic parties, including Sarkozy’s UMP. Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan nearly canceled the Turkish Season in France activities,
which is a joint nine-month campaign to promote Turkey in France.
"We’re now at a satisfactory level. We have better knowledge of each
other’s position, though disagreements on some points remain," Emié
said, adding that the officials of the two countries have decided to
focus more on bilateral issues. For Emié, French Economy Minister
Christine Lagarde’s presence at the International Monetary Fund
and World Bank summit in Istanbul is an important indicator to this
end. Furthermore, Lagarde and her Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan
will come together Friday during a meeting jointly °AD, France and
Turkey’s most important business associations.
No change in French position
Another development that deepened concerns in Turkey over its EU bid
was the victory of the center-right parties in the German elections,
which could easily create a strong alliance against full Turkish
membership. Turkey’s EU minister, Egemen BagıÅ~_, held meetings
with Pierre Lelouche, minister responsible for European affairs,
in Paris last week to examine whether Turkey’s concerns were well
founded. "He was reassured that the French position has not changed
vis-a-vis Turkish negotiations and will not change after the German
elections," Emié said.
Apart from Turkey’s EU bid, a number of global and regional issues
will dominate the talks between Gul and Sarkozy. According to Turkish
diplomats, Gul is expected to ask Sarkozy to stay loyal to earlier
commitments made to Turkey.
But EU diplomats said the Turkish case would not be at the top of
European matters after Ireland approved the Lisbon Treaty, which will
likely change the overall outlook of the union. "With the treaty
there will be new institutions and regulations. Of course there
will be a very tough period until the treaty enters into force,"
one diplomat said.
Exhibition at Grand Palais
On Friday, Gul and Sarkozy will be present at the official inauguration
of an exhibition under the title of "Istanbul, one port for two
continents" that will take place in Paris’ famous Grand Palais.
The French envoy said the Turkey Season in France and its coverage by
the French press has been very satisfactory. "We are very pleased. To
be frank, it went beyond my expectations," he said.
During Gul’s visit, the icon of France and Paris, the Eiffel Tower,
will be lit up with the colors of Turkish flag, white and red, as a
gesture to Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
