BBC: US President Barack Obama has arrived in Turkey on a two-day visit, after giving his support to Ankara's efforts to join the European Union.
He said Turkey's accession to the EU would send an important signal to the Muslim world and firmly anchor the country in Europe.
But French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it was up to the EU itself to decide who joined the bloc. Obama Backs Turkey EU Accession >>> | Sunday, April 5, 2009
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama Arrives in Turkey on Last Stop of European Tour
President Barack Obama has arrived in Turkey on the last stop of his maiden tour to Europe, hours after he urged the European Union to accept the country as a full member.
Air Force One touched down at Ankara's Esenboga airport at around 9.10pm local time in what was Obama's first trip to a majority Muslim nation since becoming president in January.
The president arrived direct from an EU summit in Prague where he endorsed Turkey's accession to the bloc, despite opposition from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and guarded remarks from German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Obama told EU leaders: "The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence, forging a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interests. Moving forward toward Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe." >>> By Alastair Jamieson | Monday, April 6, 2009
TIMESONLINE: Leave Turkey’s Bid to Join EU to Us, Nicolas Sarkozy Warns Barack Obama
The love-in between Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama proved short-lived after the French President warned his US counterpart yesterday to keep his nose out of the issue of Turkey’s membership of the European Union.
President Obama used his first EU-US summit, on the eve of his visit to Turkey, to encourage European leaders to embrace the Muslim country and “anchor it in Europe”. However, Mr Sarkozy, a long-standing opponent of full membership for Turkey, rebuffed the US leader in language that seemed to sour the revival of Franco-US relations.
Support for Turkey in joining the EU, a process that it began formally in 2005 and hopes to complete before 2020, has long been an American foreign policy goal.
Mr Obama, who flew to Turkey last night, clearly wanted to leave on a positive note. He told EU leaders: “The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence.
“Moving forward towards Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe.”
Mr Sarkozy, who has talked of offering Turkey a privileged partnership rather than membership, did not wait to hit back. “I have been working hand in hand with President Obama but when it comes to the European Union it is up to member states of the European Union to decide [on membership],” Mr Sarkozy said in an interview on French television. “I have always been opposed to this entry and I remain opposed,” he added.
His comments laid bare the continuing EU split over Turkish membership, with France and Austria openly opposed and deep reservations in Germany and the Netherlands. Turkey would become the most populous EU country and Germany in particular is said to have concerns about the shift in power that this would cause, with the largest number of MEPs coming from Turkey, along with strong voting rights in European Council decisions. >>> David Charter in Prague | Monday, April 6, 2009
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