PM: ’Turkey Season’ in France could be put off
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 12, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - A series of events set to introduce Turkish culture to France next month may be postponed, Erdoğan says, but it is not clear if he meant only to put off a trip to France. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson says Davutoğlu will go to France to attend one or two activities.
The Turkish prime minister said Thursday that the "Turkey Season" cultural event in France could be postponed because of French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s strong opposition to Ankara’s bid for full membership in the EU.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also said he might not travel to France for the event.
"Mr. Sarkozy will regret what he has been doing sooner or later," Erdoğan told private channel NTV. "We had contacts with [former French President Jacques] Chirac for a long time, but we have not seen such an approach from him."
It was not clear whether Erdoğan meant to postpone his trip to France or call off the entire Turkey Season event.
President Abdullah Gül and Sarkozy were expected to launch the event, which aims to introduce Turkish culture to France through 400 activities in 40 different French cities, on July 1. The "season" is scheduled to continue through March of next year. Gül recently said he would travel to France to kick off the events with the French leader. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is also set to travel to France to participate in one or two activities, his spokesman said yesterday.
Meanwhile, Turkey said Greek Cypriot plans to launch offshore oil and gas exploration were an "adventure" that is likely to fuel tensions and hamper reunification talks.
Turkey is determined to protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots on the island, Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Özügergin said at a weekly press conference, where he warned Cyprus against unilateral moves and emphasized that Turkey does not want to stir up tension but intends to protect its interests.
In response to a question about the tender reportedly awarded by Greek Cyprus to a U.S. company for oil exploration, the spokesman called on the third parties, without naming the United States, to display common sense, and warned against being used as a tool in policies that could fuel tension.
Özügergin, replying to another question about the German decision to exempt a certain group of professions from visa requirements, said the new regulations enforced by German authorities were complicated and could lead to problems putting them into practice.
Germany has announced that it has decided to ease visa requirements for Turks based on a February ruling of the European Court of Justice. According to a written statement from the German Embassy in Ankara, the document on visa exemption could be obtained from German missions in Turkey before traveling to Germany.
Turkey is taking the initiative at the level of the commission that will prepare the guide on the application of the European Court of Justice ruling and has also conveyed its opinion to German authorities, Özügergin said.
’Diplomatic rules violated’
Responding to another question, Özügergin said German Ambassador to Ankara Eckart Cuntz’s sharing of a classified correspondence with the Turkish Foreign Ministry was against diplomatic principles.
The document shared by Cuntz with the members of the Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association included a letter sent by the embassy to the Foreign Ministry and dated April 30. The letter, which was addressed to Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ertuğrul Apakan, said the alleged documents in news reports suggesting that the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, received financial aid from the Germany-based Friedrich Ebert Foundation were groundless.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also said he might not travel to France for the event.
"Mr. Sarkozy will regret what he has been doing sooner or later," Erdoğan told private channel NTV. "We had contacts with [former French President Jacques] Chirac for a long time, but we have not seen such an approach from him."
It was not clear whether Erdoğan meant to postpone his trip to France or call off the entire Turkey Season event.
President Abdullah Gül and Sarkozy were expected to launch the event, which aims to introduce Turkish culture to France through 400 activities in 40 different French cities, on July 1. The "season" is scheduled to continue through March of next year. Gül recently said he would travel to France to kick off the events with the French leader. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is also set to travel to France to participate in one or two activities, his spokesman said yesterday.
Meanwhile, Turkey said Greek Cypriot plans to launch offshore oil and gas exploration were an "adventure" that is likely to fuel tensions and hamper reunification talks.
Turkey is determined to protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots on the island, Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Özügergin said at a weekly press conference, where he warned Cyprus against unilateral moves and emphasized that Turkey does not want to stir up tension but intends to protect its interests.
In response to a question about the tender reportedly awarded by Greek Cyprus to a U.S. company for oil exploration, the spokesman called on the third parties, without naming the United States, to display common sense, and warned against being used as a tool in policies that could fuel tension.
Özügergin, replying to another question about the German decision to exempt a certain group of professions from visa requirements, said the new regulations enforced by German authorities were complicated and could lead to problems putting them into practice.
Germany has announced that it has decided to ease visa requirements for Turks based on a February ruling of the European Court of Justice. According to a written statement from the German Embassy in Ankara, the document on visa exemption could be obtained from German missions in Turkey before traveling to Germany.
Turkey is taking the initiative at the level of the commission that will prepare the guide on the application of the European Court of Justice ruling and has also conveyed its opinion to German authorities, Özügergin said.
’Diplomatic rules violated’
Responding to another question, Özügergin said German Ambassador to Ankara Eckart Cuntz’s sharing of a classified correspondence with the Turkish Foreign Ministry was against diplomatic principles.
The document shared by Cuntz with the members of the Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association included a letter sent by the embassy to the Foreign Ministry and dated April 30. The letter, which was addressed to Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ertuğrul Apakan, said the alleged documents in news reports suggesting that the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, received financial aid from the Germany-based Friedrich Ebert Foundation were groundless.