Today's Date:

Europe/General Affairs and External Relations Council

Statements made by Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his meeting with the media (excerpts)

Luxembourg, October 3, 2005

THE MINISTER – Obviously, the fact that these negotiations are starting certainly doesn't mean there will be Turkish accession, those who say it does are lying. Turkey has to make a major effort in terms of democracy, human rights, religious freedom, equality between men and women, fundamental freedoms and minority rights. Today, yes, there is a framework, but no one can know whether, in 10 or 15 years, Turkey will join the European Union. What I do know is that, at geopolitical level, I believe that everyone thinks it's better to have a Turkey looking towards the European Union with its values of democracy, human rights and freedoms, rather than a Turkey looking towards Islamist fundamentalism, that seems obvious to me. The second thing is that there are two solutions: either Turkey joins the European Union at the end of the current negotiations, and it will be every country which will decide in fine; in France, President Chirac has decided that it would be the French people, in a referendum, who will say "yes” or "no”.

So we find ourselves at the start of these negotiations; we don't yet know if they will conclude satisfactorily since any country can (…) reject the accession; indeed, it would happen only if the French people said "yes”.

THE MINISTER – For Croatia, things were very different: for several months, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal, Mrs Carla Del Ponte, told us that the Croatian government wasn't collaborating in the search for the war criminals. In the past few hours, Mrs Del Ponte has been telling us that the Croatian government is collaborating perfectly with the Tribunal.

In the wake of that (…) we think there's no reason for Croatia not to open these negotiations, on one condition: that there's a very specific timetable. Every month we shall check whether there's perfect collaboration between the International Criminal Tribunal and Croatia. Let no one be mistaken, France won't let any Balkan country (…) start or go on negotiating with the European Union if we're not sure it's cooperating perfectly with the International Criminal Tribunal.

THE MINISTER – (…) It isn't only for the European Union that it's an important moment, it's one for the whole world, for world peace and stability. Secondly, there are two solutions: either Turkey implements reforms through her laws, in correlation with the European Union's standards and values, in which case she will one day be able to join the European Union – that means a revolution for that country in terms of human rights, fundamental freedoms, religious freedom, gender parity and minority rights. If the country does all that, then indeed it's a remarkable historical achievement for them and for us.

THE MINISTER – It's the exact opposite. When you believe in something, you fight for it. We believe in human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy. The further a country moves towards freedoms, democracy and human rights, the more that country obviously deserves our help. If it doesn't move in this direction, then I think it mustn't join the European Union. (…) When we have opposite us someone we wish well, we have to tell him/her what we expect from them, that's what we said to Turkey. (…)./.