Friday, January 5th., 2018
"...Turkey's EU Accession BidSpeaking on Turkey's possible accession to the EU, long-cherished by Ankara, the French president has stated that the recent developments in the country do not allow it, adding that it would be deceptive to pretend new chapters in the joining talks could be opened.
Erdogan has stricken a blow aside by saying that waiting for the membership in the European Union "exhausts" Turks.
Countering the stance of the Turkish president, Macron stated that the EU could offer Tukey "partnership" instead of membership...."
Macron Says 'No Progress Possible' on Turkey's EU Membership Now
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in France on his first
official visit to the country since 2016, meeting with his French
counterpart Emmanuel Macron on January 5. The reported agenda of the
meeting includes the Turkey's relations with the EU, the conflicts in
Syria and Iraq, as well as the issue of bilateral trade.
"Our
democracies must be strong standing up to terrorism… But at the same
time our democracies must completely protect the rule of law," Macron
said in a joint news conference with Tayyip Erdogan after talks
in Paris, in reference to the issue of imprisoned journalists which he
vowed to raise prior to the talks.
Responding to Macron's stance, the Turkish president noted that terrorism did not create itself, calling columnists and opinion leaders "gardeners" of terrorism.
Before the meeting, on January 4, Special Advisor to the Turkish President Ibrahim Kalin slammed Macron's position on the issue, due to the latter's "lack of information on the issue" and announced that Erdogan would present some documents explaining in a "detailed" manner why the people detained are members of a terror group.
The discussion was to touch the fate of two French citizens detained in Turkey last year over terror charges: Mathias Depardon and Loup Bureau.
In total, about 151 journalists have been imprisoned in the country since July 2016, when the state of emergency was declared due to the failed coup attempt, according to the P24 press freedom group.
Turkey's EU Accession Bid
Speaking on Turkey's possible accession to the EU, long-cherished by Ankara, the French president has stated that the recent developments in the country do not allow it, adding that it would be deceptive to pretend new chapters in the joining talks could be opened.
Erdogan has stricken a blow aside by saying that waiting for the membership in the European Union "exhausts" Turks.
Countering the stance of the Turkish president, Macron stated that the EU could offer Tukey "partnership" instead of membership.
Turkish EU Accession Bid
The story of much-anticipated Turkey's accession to the EU dates back to 1963, when the country has signed EU Association agreement with the bloc. After that, the country reiterated its bid in 1987 by submitting a membership proposal. Formal talks on Turkey's accession to the bloc started in 2005. In March 2016, its candidature received a boost as it signed a migration deal with the European Union.
Nonetheless, negotiations have been repeatedly delayed due to various obstacles, including the European Union's objections regarding the clampdown by the Turkish government on those suspected of ties to organizers of the failed coup in July 2016.
This long "exhausting" wait prompted Erdogan to say that Turkey could hold a referendum to decide if they actually need to further strive to join the bloc on March 25, 2017, just on the day when the European Union celebrated its 60th birthday.
However, recently the Turkish president has put his shoulder to the wheel of talks with renewed vigor, describing Germany's, Netherlands' and Belgium's governments as "old friends," and stressing that their last contacts were "quite good," particularly over the Jerusalem issue.
Responding to Macron's stance, the Turkish president noted that terrorism did not create itself, calling columnists and opinion leaders "gardeners" of terrorism.
Before the meeting, on January 4, Special Advisor to the Turkish President Ibrahim Kalin slammed Macron's position on the issue, due to the latter's "lack of information on the issue" and announced that Erdogan would present some documents explaining in a "detailed" manner why the people detained are members of a terror group.
The discussion was to touch the fate of two French citizens detained in Turkey last year over terror charges: Mathias Depardon and Loup Bureau.
In total, about 151 journalists have been imprisoned in the country since July 2016, when the state of emergency was declared due to the failed coup attempt, according to the P24 press freedom group.
Turkey's EU Accession Bid
Speaking on Turkey's possible accession to the EU, long-cherished by Ankara, the French president has stated that the recent developments in the country do not allow it, adding that it would be deceptive to pretend new chapters in the joining talks could be opened.
Erdogan has stricken a blow aside by saying that waiting for the membership in the European Union "exhausts" Turks.
Countering the stance of the Turkish president, Macron stated that the EU could offer Tukey "partnership" instead of membership.
Turkish EU Accession Bid
The story of much-anticipated Turkey's accession to the EU dates back to 1963, when the country has signed EU Association agreement with the bloc. After that, the country reiterated its bid in 1987 by submitting a membership proposal. Formal talks on Turkey's accession to the bloc started in 2005. In March 2016, its candidature received a boost as it signed a migration deal with the European Union.
Nonetheless, negotiations have been repeatedly delayed due to various obstacles, including the European Union's objections regarding the clampdown by the Turkish government on those suspected of ties to organizers of the failed coup in July 2016.
This long "exhausting" wait prompted Erdogan to say that Turkey could hold a referendum to decide if they actually need to further strive to join the bloc on March 25, 2017, just on the day when the European Union celebrated its 60th birthday.
However, recently the Turkish president has put his shoulder to the wheel of talks with renewed vigor, describing Germany's, Netherlands' and Belgium's governments as "old friends," and stressing that their last contacts were "quite good," particularly over the Jerusalem issue.