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Sarkozy praises Turkey, but still opposes it joining the EU

26 February 2011 02:38 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. France’s president was full of praise for Turkey on Friday, but he made clear there was no change in his opposition to the mainly Muslim nation’s bid to join the European Union, APA reports quoting â€œThe Canadian Pressâ€.
Nicolas Sarkozy, on his first visit to Turkey, lauded the country’s growing international influence and efforts to resolve disputes in the region. But the French president said there could be other alternatives to Turkey’s membership in the EU.
"There is a subject that we do not agree on," Sarkozy said, in reference to Turkey’s EU hopes. "Other ways can be found."
"We may have separate views but we will continue to work together," he said, speaking at a joint news conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
Sarkozy is opposed to Turkey’s EU membership, arguing that the populous, predominantly Muslim country is not a part of Europe. France wants Turkey to accept some kind of a special partnership with the EU instead of full membership â€” an offer Turkey has said it would never agree to.
Turkey started and the EU began membership negotiations in 2005, but talks have reached a virtual standstill because of a dispute with Cyprus over the use of ports and airports.
France is holding up Turkey’s membership negotiations in five policy issues, in addition to eight policy issues frozen by the EU over Turkey’s refusal to allow ships and planes from the divided island of Cyprus to enter its ports and airspace.
Sarkozy, the first French president to visit Turkey since 1992, arrived in his capacity as current president of the Group of 20 rich and developing countries. Turkish officials have lamented the fact that he had chosen to stay just for a few minutes.
Sarkozy made amends Friday, saying he would like to pay an official visit and travel to Istanbul.
"For me, it would be bliss," he said later, during talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.