Turkey/France - EU aspirations

Turkish President pushes EU bid on French visit

Article published on the 2009-10-08 Latest update 2009-10-08 10:08 TU

The eiffel tower lit up red and white, the colours of Turkey, from 6-11 October 2009
(Photo: Reuters)

Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in France Wednesday to inaugurate an art exhibition in Paris. But the three-day visit is not just about culture. Gul will sit down with the French President Friday for their first one-on-one talks since Nicolas Sarkozy was elected in 2007. On the agenda - Turkey’s bid to join the EU, something Sarkozy has strongly opposed.

Gul is in France as part of the cultural Season of Turkey in France. But he will take advantage of the visit to plead the case for Turkey’s joining the EU to Sarkozy, who has been staunchly against it.

Before leaving Turkey, he said his country was making good progress on reforms required by the EU when it started membership negotiations in 2005.

“For me, the process of negotiations with the EU is based on Turkey improving and meeting European standards,” Gul told Le Figaro newspaper. “The day we achieve this, Turkey will be very different than it is today. Maybe this Turkey will overcome doubts from France and others. Or maybe the Turks will no longer want Europe.”

Gul is to meet Sarkozy at the Elysée Palace Friday, after meeting Prime Minister Francois Fillon Thursday. He will give a speech at the UN cultural organisation Unesco on Thursday evening.

On Wednesday he inaugurated the exhibit Byzantium to Istanbul: a port on two continents at the Grand Palais museum in Paris.

From 6-11 October the Eiffel Tower is illuminated in red, the colour of the Turkish flag.