French President Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated in Strasburg on
Tuesday his opposition to full Turkish membership of the European
Union.
Sarkozy made the remarks when meeting leaders of the European
Parliament's political groups in Strasbourg.
In response to questions from Socialist Group leader Martin
Schulz, Sarkozy said that he had offered privileged partnership
status to Turkish Premier Recip Erdogan during bilateral talks.
He declared that he would hold talks only on issues linked to
Turkish association with the EU and would close five chapters
related to potential long-term Turkish membership of the EU.
"I will only support measures that will not lead to full
membership," the French president replied to Schulz's question
whether he would stop accession talks during the French Presidency
of the EU in the second half of 2008.
Sarkozy made his first visit to the European Parliament's
four-day plenary since becoming French president. He gave a formal
speech to the members of the parliament.
His stance on Turkey led to concern for progress in EU-Turkey
relations during next year's French presidency of the 27-nation
bloc.
"The French president's position was direct," said Schulz after
the meeting.
"He said that for him, Europe has clear borders and that he
considered the territory of Turkey to be predominantly in Asia
Minor," Schulz noted.
"Turkey is an important country and it is in the EU's interest
to have strong relations with Ankara."
He said the perspective of EU membership "in the long term has
led to far-reaching reforms in the country already and will produce
further advances."
"To end those talks abruptly under the French presidency would
be a damaging step backwards," Schulz warned.
(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2007)
