>>>
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......"
>>>
