Be grateful to France for progress, says envoy
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Serkan Demirtaş
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 23, 2008 00:00
ANKARA - While France readies to deliver the EU presidency to the Czech Republic, top French envoy to Ankara says Turkey should be grateful to French presidency as it resulted in the opening of the two chapters despite pessimistic expectations
With 10 days left until the end of the presidency term of the European Union, a top French envoy in Ankara said Turkey should be grateful to the French presidency, for the opening of two chapters despite pessimistic expectations six months ago.
"You have to consider deeds and facts. If you look at what has been achieved, I think Turkey should be grateful to the French presidency," Bernard Emi France’s ambassador to Turkey told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an interview yesterday.
"I guess some people in Turkey were surprised that the French presidency behaved as it did to move forward on many issues. That is exactly where we are. We made some commitments and we fulfilled those commitments," Emi said, adding that the French presidency had kept its promise to be fair, neutral and impartial during the six-month period.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, is known for his opposition to Turkey’s full membership of the EU. France has already blocked the opening of five chapters directly related to full membership status. Public opinion in France is also not very warm to the idea of Turkey’s accession to the EU. France carried out the presidency term under conditions that worried Ankara about the future of talks. "We just feel we have done the utmost to work for this brilliant result of the opening of two chapters. Let me be very frank. The French system pushed extremely hard and we had to lobby here in Ankara for certain decisions to be made. Otherwise it would have been more difficult to consider opening those two chapters," Emi said.
"We were extremely proactive, which has meant success at the end of the presidency."
Reforms not pushed enough
When asked about his assessment of the pace of reforms in Turkey, Emi said messages had been given to Turkey by various European institutions about the reform process not being pushed through enough by authorities and that was clearly reflected in the European Commission’s annual progress report and in other key EU documents. "I realize the official position of this country is to continue boldly and swiftly in the direction of negotiations, but we are disappointed because we feel that there should and could be more. That is not only a French assessment, but all the members’ assessment," he said. Due to the continuous political crisis and elections in the country, the government could not focus on the reform process to speed up negotiations with the EU. Olli Rehn, EU’s commissioner responsible for enlargement, openly urged Turkey to proceed with reforms after local elections.
Similarly to Rehn, Emi said, "The pace of the negotiation process will continue to depend on reforms, especially in the political field, but also on the establishment of good neighborly relations and the implementation of an additional protocol to the association agreement.
"There is no alternative. If there is no reform and progress, then it will be difficult to progress with negotiations," he said. Among the priorities Turkey should pursue are to continue judicial reform, establish an anti-corruption strategy, ensure effective protection of citizens rights, full implementation of zero tolerance toward torture, ensure freedom of religious expression, strengthen cultural rights and implement measures for social and economic development in the Southeast.
Better climate between Turkey and France
According to Emi, the presidency term has also had a positive impact on Turkish-French bilateral ties. "The atmosphere is not perfect but it is much better," he said, adding that the French parliament made a decision not to vote on a law that would punish those who denied the Armenian genocide. "Turkish public opinion should listen to this," he said.
Asked about his expectations from Turkey’s non-permanent membership to the U.N. Security Council, Emi said they were happy about Turkey’s election to the prestigious seat. "Turkey will be in the European group that is why we expect Turkey to be a very active and close partner, and to take the initiative," he said. "It is going to be huge responsibility for this country because when you are in the Security Council you have to think about the interests of the international community. You are not there to defend your own interests. You have to play an important role in all issues. So we are sure Turkey will behave accordingly."
"You have to consider deeds and facts. If you look at what has been achieved, I think Turkey should be grateful to the French presidency," Bernard Emi France’s ambassador to Turkey told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an interview yesterday.
"I guess some people in Turkey were surprised that the French presidency behaved as it did to move forward on many issues. That is exactly where we are. We made some commitments and we fulfilled those commitments," Emi said, adding that the French presidency had kept its promise to be fair, neutral and impartial during the six-month period.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, is known for his opposition to Turkey’s full membership of the EU. France has already blocked the opening of five chapters directly related to full membership status. Public opinion in France is also not very warm to the idea of Turkey’s accession to the EU. France carried out the presidency term under conditions that worried Ankara about the future of talks. "We just feel we have done the utmost to work for this brilliant result of the opening of two chapters. Let me be very frank. The French system pushed extremely hard and we had to lobby here in Ankara for certain decisions to be made. Otherwise it would have been more difficult to consider opening those two chapters," Emi said.
"We were extremely proactive, which has meant success at the end of the presidency."
Reforms not pushed enough
When asked about his assessment of the pace of reforms in Turkey, Emi said messages had been given to Turkey by various European institutions about the reform process not being pushed through enough by authorities and that was clearly reflected in the European Commission’s annual progress report and in other key EU documents. "I realize the official position of this country is to continue boldly and swiftly in the direction of negotiations, but we are disappointed because we feel that there should and could be more. That is not only a French assessment, but all the members’ assessment," he said. Due to the continuous political crisis and elections in the country, the government could not focus on the reform process to speed up negotiations with the EU. Olli Rehn, EU’s commissioner responsible for enlargement, openly urged Turkey to proceed with reforms after local elections.
Similarly to Rehn, Emi said, "The pace of the negotiation process will continue to depend on reforms, especially in the political field, but also on the establishment of good neighborly relations and the implementation of an additional protocol to the association agreement.
"There is no alternative. If there is no reform and progress, then it will be difficult to progress with negotiations," he said. Among the priorities Turkey should pursue are to continue judicial reform, establish an anti-corruption strategy, ensure effective protection of citizens rights, full implementation of zero tolerance toward torture, ensure freedom of religious expression, strengthen cultural rights and implement measures for social and economic development in the Southeast.
Better climate between Turkey and France
According to Emi, the presidency term has also had a positive impact on Turkish-French bilateral ties. "The atmosphere is not perfect but it is much better," he said, adding that the French parliament made a decision not to vote on a law that would punish those who denied the Armenian genocide. "Turkish public opinion should listen to this," he said.
Asked about his expectations from Turkey’s non-permanent membership to the U.N. Security Council, Emi said they were happy about Turkey’s election to the prestigious seat. "Turkey will be in the European group that is why we expect Turkey to be a very active and close partner, and to take the initiative," he said. "It is going to be huge responsibility for this country because when you are in the Security Council you have to think about the interests of the international community. You are not there to defend your own interests. You have to play an important role in all issues. So we are sure Turkey will behave accordingly."