Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan Visits Paris, Discusses EU Entry and Cultural Ties

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan embarked on a three-day visit to Paris, where he held talks with French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin on Turkey's potential entry into the European Union (EU). Erdogan sought French support for Turkey's EU membership bid, citing the country's reform efforts to meet EU criteria. The two leaders also discussed cultural ties and industrial cooperation, as well as the significant number of Turkish citizens living in France, who Erdogan believes can serve as a bridge between the two nations.

Key Takeaways:

• Erdogan and Raffarin discussed Turkey's EU membership bid, with the French Prime Minister acknowledging Turkey's reform efforts and the need for the EU Council to make a decision on the issue in December.
• The two leaders underlined the importance of cultural ties and industrial cooperation between Turkey and France, with Erdogan mentioning the growing number of French tourists visiting Turkey.
• Approximately 400,000 Turks live in France, which Erdogan views as a potential bridge between the two nations.
• Turkey receives 400,000 French tourists in 2003, with a predicted increase to 600,000 this year.
• Erdogan will meet French President Jacques Chirac, who favors Turkey's admission to the EU if the country meets the EU's demands, particularly in the field of human rights.
• Chirac has expressed his support for Turkey's EU membership at the NATO summit in Istanbul, considering Ankara's progress "irreversible."

Statistics:

• 400,000: The number of Turks living in France.
• 400,000: The number of French tourists visiting Turkey in 2003.
• 600,000: The predicted number of French tourists visiting Turkey this year.
• 2003: The year in which Turkey received 400,000 French tourists.

Sources:

• Xinha (2004, July 19). Turkish Premier visits France, pins hopes on EU membership. WorldSources, Inc.
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