>>
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/6399969.asp?gid=74
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sarkozy displays hard stance against Turkish EU membership in letter to
>> Armenians
>>
>>
>>
>> Nikolas Sarkozy, the leading candidate for president following the first
>> round of French presidential elections, has written a letter to the
>> Armenian
>> community in France, making promises about France's committment to
>> recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide, as well as taking a stong
>> stance against potential Turkish membership in the EU.
>>
>> Part of Sarkozy's letter, which was sent to the Armenian Foundations
>> Coordination Council, said "France has officially recognized the Armenian
>> genocide, and this law holds for everyone. France violently condemns
>> every
>> kind of provocation and discrimination against ethnicities of any
>> kind......We are a republic which respects the honor and memory of the
>> Armenians, and as a state, we will never bow to pressure on this front."
>>
>> Later in the letter, Sarkozy talks about his views on possible Turkish
>> membership in the EU: "Let me tell you the truth: I am against Turkish EU
>> membership. The real problem lies with Turkey; I cannot tell young French
>> school students that Europe's borders lie along Syria and Iraq. If we
>> accept
>> Turkey then, putting aside the Ukraine for a moment, we have to accept
>> Lebanon, Israel, and the Magrib. If Europe really wants to give off a
>> sense
>> of security, then its borders must be defined. We should deepen our
>> relations with Turkey, but not to the point of EU membership. What we
>> need
>> is an urgent declaration of 'privileged partnership' with Turkey......"
>>
