Erdogan: We Expect France To Maintain Its Pioneer And Constructive Attitude

PARIS - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday, ''we told President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin of France that we expected France to maintain its pioneer and constructive attitude about setting a date for opening of accession talks between Turkey and the European Union (EU).''
Holding a news conference at Paris' International Conference Center, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''besides the bilateral relations between Turkey and France, Turkey-the EU relations, Cyprus, recent developments in Iraq, the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative, Caucasus, energy, latest international and regional developments topped agenda of our meetings with President Chirac and Prime Minister Raffarin.''
''During the meetings, we told President Chirac and Prime Minister Raffarin that we expected France to maintain its pioneer and constructive attitude about setting a date for opening of accession talks between Turkey and the EU. I informed both President Chirac and Prime Minister Raffarin on reform process in Turkey aiming to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria,'' he stressed.
Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters that he had invited President Chirac and Prime Minister Raffarin to Turkey.
Highlighting importance of holding regular high-level meetings between Turkey and France, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''France is one of the most important economic and commercial partners of Turkey. France tops the list of countries making investments in Turkey. Also, France is ranked fourth among countries having relations of exports and imports with Turkey. Trade volume between Turkey and France is currently about 7 billion U.S. dollars. This amount is continuing to rise day by day.''
(UK) 20.07.2004