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Turkey Debates in France Heated
By Ali Ihsan Aydin
Published: Thursday 03, 2005
zaman.com

Speaker of the French National Parliament Jean Louis Debre expressed regret about the rough and hurtful discussions that are sometimes held in France about Turkey's European Union (EU) membership bid.

Debre, who will come to Ankara as a guest of Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Bulent Arinc today, discussed his visit and the Turkey discussions in France with Zaman. The Speaker of the French Parliament advocated that the "referendum draft" approved by the parliament the other day (February 1) was not targeted at Turkey and said the French people have begun to ask some questions because of Turkey's case such as "Where does Europe begin geographically and where does it end? What kind of Europe do we want to construct?" Some legitimate, normal and democratic discussions sometimes turn hurtful and rough, Debre said, and this causes negative effects, which may influence relations with a big country like Turkey.

Turkey's EU membership bid as led to passion and enthusiasm in the French public interest, Debre said and the Turkey discussions bring the questions of European borders and nature of the EU's development to the table.

Debre will come to Turkey with the party group leaders of the French Parliament and will meet with the Turkish President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Parliament and Chief of Stuff. The main focus of the visit will be "approaches to Turkey's EU membership". The visit will be beneficial to understand Turkey without using clichés and the French will see the realities of Turkish society without prejudgments, said Debre. "The visit will have reached its goals if it helps us to recognize Turkey's triumphs more than its problems," and they force a healthy approach far from the debates, Debre added. The main issue of the visit will be the questions about Turkey's EU membership, Debre said, and they will exchange views with the Turkish authorities about the European project, the progress that has been made on the EU path, and the reforms, adding, "We are here to listen first."

Debre also insists there was no special article against Turkey in the constitutional harmonization package which was approved by the parliament on Tuesday (February 1) and almost guaranteed that a referendum will be held in France for Turkey's EU membership. Debre clarified that French President Jacques Chirac supported a referendum for a final say from the French public about the EU enlargement and said this requirement was valid for all new members.