Abdullah Gul arrives in Paris

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish president Abdullah Gul arrives in Paris for a three-day mission that is already viewed as delicate in France, the main opposer of Ankara's entry into the European Union. Even before his arrival in Paris, Gul is attempting to deflate tensions and he told the French press that ''Turkey will have to improve and meet European regulations'', ANSAmed reports.



Gul will be in Paris mainly for the ''Turkey's season in France'', with 400 events scheduled to take place in nine months, including a large art exhibition in the Grand Palais that Gul will inaugurate together with French president Nicolas Sarkozy next Friday.



His visit will also include political encounters and Turkey's bid to join the EU will be the main topic of debate. Some observers believe that Paris is almost 'schizophrenic' because on one hand it pays homage to Turkey's culture and people, and on the other it still prods Ankara about Europe.



Various scandalized voices have been clamoring for some days now at the notion of seeing the Turkish flag on the Tour Eiffel, the city's main symbol, until Sunday. The socialist municipality made it clear that the request was submitted by the Elysium. The Turkish issue has France divided on several points, ranging from the respect of human rights to the denial of the Armenian Genocide. But not all is reason for conflict. For example, Paris does not deny that it appreciates



Turkey's mediation with Iran and Syria, or in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, or progress achieved on the Kurdish issue. In an interview published by Le Figaro, Gul made a conciliatory move: ''I will meet president Sarkozy to assess bilateral relations. It is normal for countries to have different views on certain matters, but we must not forget that our relations hinge on converging interests''.



Gul denied that relations with Paris are 'tense', stating that ''our cooperation is vast''. In his opinion there is a 'misunderstanding' on the EU-Turkey issue, and he promised skeptics that ''the negotiation process with the EU aims to improve Turkey and meet European regulations. This job is up to us, transformation depends on Turkey''. Gul also replied on the 'hot' issue of the Armenian Genocide (which the French Parliament recognized in 2001) and announced the ''creation of a history board to establish the facts'', while on Saturday new diplomatic relations will be set up between the Armenia and Turkey with the signature of relative protocols.