"Turkish Season" in France will take place as plannedJune 20, 2009 - 15:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A series of events to introduce Turkish culture to Turkey-skeptical France will take place as planned, despite speculation that it might be canceled amid tensions over France's strong opposition to Turkey's membership in the European Union.The nine-month "Turkish Season" will be launched by Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay and his French counterpart, Christine Albanel, June 30 at a press conference in Paris, a statement from the Foreign Ministry said late on Thursday. Turkish Season, which will include concerts, conferences and exhibitions across France to illustrate Turkey's modern face and its historical and cultural richness, will run through March 31, 2010. "I have told my colleagues that we should reconsider the whole thing. What can we do with an administration that has such an approach towards Turkey? How many French people will benefit from this event? How many of them will come and watch the festivities?" Erdoğan asked in an interview with NTV television last week. Sarkozy further emphasized his anti-Turkish membership in the run-up to elections for the European Parliament, which took place in early June. Sarkozy believes that Turkey does not belong to Europe and proposes instead a privileged partnership that falls short of membership in the 27-nation EU. Doubts over whether the Turkish Season would be held as planned were reinforced when President Abdullah Gül postponed a meeting with about 200 businessmen who provided funds for the event, which was due to take place on Thursday. Gül was expected to meet with Sarkozy in Paris in October to formally launch the Turkish Season but it is not clear whether he will stick to the original plans amid misgivings in Ankara over the French stance against Turkish EU membership, Today's Zaman reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |