French Parliamentarian Pledges Not To Hinder Turkey's E.U. Process

ANKARA - A French parliamentarian pledged that his country would not block Turkey`s accession talks with the European Union when France assumes the Union`s rotating term presidency.
"We have no intention to cut off the accession process. The talks will continue," diplomatic sources quoted Pierre Lellouche, an adviser to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, as saying after his meeting Thursday with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.
Lellouche said France was willing to improve its relations with Turkey despite what he called as "hardships."
The French parliamentarian also said the Mediterranean Union, a project to form loose grouping of Mediterranean countries, would not affect Turkey`s EU membership process.
Earlier Tuesday, Lellouche was received by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well.
(YMB-TÇ-AÖ)