President Gul urges French leaders not to block Turkey's EU accession negotiations

As part of his talks in Paris, President Abdullah Gul yesterday received French Prime Minister Francois Fillion and also met with members of the French Senate. During his meeting with Fillion, Gul reportedly urged the French government not to try to block Turkey's ongoing European Union accession talks through "privileged partnership" proposals, adding that Turkish-EU relations aren't separate from Turco-French ties. For his part, Fillion reportedly said that France welcomes Turkey's democratic reform efforts, and particularly its reconciliation talks with Armenia and the recent democratic initiative, praising Gul's personal efforts to modernize Turkey. French Minister for European Affairs Pierre Lelouche, also present during the meeting, later told reporters afterwards that Turkey and France enjoy very good relations. Gul yesterday also addressed a meeting at the Institut Francais des Relations Internationales on Turkish-EU relations. Stressing the importance of Turkey for both the EU and the Middle East, Gul told the meeting that Turkey, as an emerging power, would give the EU a stronger say on the global stage. He also said that an EU member Turkey would do much to promote democratic values in its region. Gul is expected to meet with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy today, and the two presidents will jointly inaugurate an exhibit, "From Byzantine to Istanbul: A Bridge for Two Continents," as part of the ongoing Turkish Season in France. Asked in a French TV interview if Turkey limits freedom of expression over the so-called Armenian genocide claims, Gul said the reality of Turkey and its perception in France are very different from each other, adding that- any view can be freely expressed in Turkey so long as it doesn't call for violence. "I don't believe in the so-called Armenian genocide claims," he said. "But this doesn't prevent anyone from expressing his or her views to the contrary. Turkey is not the old Turkey now, and there is no law in Turkey that bars individuals from expressing their views on this issue freely."