FRENCH FM KOUCHNER ARRIVES IN ANKARA TOMORROW FOR TALKS ON EU, ARMENIAN CLAIMS
Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 4 2007
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is set to arrive in Ankara
tomorrow for talks aimed at clarifying France’s stance on Armenian
claims of genocide, as well as the French position on Turkey’s quest
for EU accession.
Kouchner’s visit to the Turkish capital will be the first high level
Turkish-French meeting since last week’s talks between Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Nicholas Sarkozy in New
York. An official from the French Embassy in Ankara noted that the
visit by Kouchner would be brief but helpful, commenting "Kouchner
is coming to help construct an energetic relationship with Foreign
Minister Babacan."
The same official noted: "We are prepared to warm relations with
Turkey, and to open up channels of communication. This visit is a
signal that the dialogue between the two countries is getting better.
Sarkozy is maintaining his position on Turkey. But he also
wants reforms to continue in Turkey, and he will not interfere in
this…..When the reforms are complete, it will be time for France
to make some decisions."