“Negotiations began in 1964. We are in 2007. The time has rather come to tell the Turks whether we want them or if we don’t want them. For me actually, it is not a question of democracy, it is not at all a question of Muslims, of Islam. It is to say that it’s Asia, it is not Europe. One must tell clearly to this great people that is Turkey that they are meant to be the heart of the Union of the Mediterranean but not the heart of the European Union.” (Televised debate with Segolene Royal, May 2, 2007) – Nicolas Sarkozy [Source: New York Times]
Mark Alexander
