ArmenPress
April 29 2004
TURKEY NOT READY TO JOIN EU, FRANCES’ PRESIDENT SAYS
PARIS, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: French President Jacques Chirac said
Thursday that Turkey’s entry into the European Union, which is set to
expand to 25 members this week, is not “desirable” now but could be
in the future.
Chirac, speaking at his first full-fledged news conference in six
years, said Turkey had not yet met the conditions for entry into the
EU. He pointed to concern about issues ranging from human rights to
judicial reform. “The destiny of Turkey has always been deeply linked
to Europe,” Chirac said. “Turkey has made considerable efforts,” but
has a way to go, he said.
In response to a question whether Turkey’s formal recognition of
the Armenian genocide of 1915 would eliminate some of these
obstacles, Chirac said the question lies within Turkish-Armenian
relations. “I am deeply satisfied with ongoing positive changes in
Turkish-Armenian relations. It would be incorrect to judge about
future prospects of these relations in the light of the past,” he
said.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution in 1987 linking
Turkey’s membership with the EU to its official acknowledgment of the
1915 genocide.