Sarkozy: it was dishonest to promise full EU membership to Ankara

PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Nicolas Sarkozy told senior Euro MPs that he opposes full Turkish membership of the EU.



The statement — in response to questions from Socialist Group leader Martin Schulz — led to concern for progress in EU-Turkey relations during next year's French Presidency of the EU Council.



Speaking to leaders of the European Parliament's political groups in Strasbourg, Mr Sarkozy said that he offered privileged partnership status to Turkish premier Recep Tayyip 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 in the European Union. "It was dishonest to promise full membership to Ankara," he said.



Mr Schulz, who took part in the talks with Mr Sarkozy, said: "The French President's position was direct. He said that for him, Europe has clear borders and that that he considered the territory of Turkey to be predominantly in Asia Minor."



Asked by Mr Schulz if he would stop accession talks during the French Presidency, Mr Sarkozy replied: "I will only support measures that will not lead to full membership."



For his part, Mr Schulz said: "Turkey is an important country and it is in the EU's interests to have strong relations with Ankara. The perspective of EU membership in the long term has led to far-reaching reforms in the country already and will produce further advances.



"The very fact that the EU is negotiating on Turkish membership gives an important signal to the whole of the Muslim world. To end those talks abruptly under the French presidency would be a damaging step backwards," he said, ABHaber reports.