Bilateral relations, Turkey's European Union accession process, regional issues and the Season of Turkey in France, a nine-month-long project promoting Turkish culture in France through various activities that began in June and will continue through March, will be on the agenda of talks between Davutoğlu and Kouchner, the agency said in a report posted from Paris.
Earlier this month, President Abdullah Gül paid an official visit to Paris where he and his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, together opened a grand exhibition at Paris' Grand Palais on the occasion of the Season of Turkey in France. The French president arrived at the exhibition chewing a piece of gum.
“Mr. Sarkozy's gum-chewing, I heard, served as a metaphor for France's disdain for Turkey's European aspirations. The lack of respect set the tone for the two leaders' working lunch at the Elysée Palace. The atmosphere was described as ‘polite.' We know what that means,” said an article published last week in the Financial Times.
Sarkozy believes that Turkey does not belong in Europe and proposes instead a privileged partnership that falls short of membership in the 27-nation EU. Countries hoping to join the EU must complete 35 policy negotiating areas, or chapters. Ankara has so far formally opened 11 chapters. In addition to the eight chapters frozen due to a customs dispute with Greek Cyprus, France has been blocking another five chapters that are directly linked to full membership.
