Ludovic Marin, pool, AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a joint press conference on January 5, 2018, at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

At a press conference with Turkish President in Paris, Emmanuel Macron said Friday that political developments in Turkey were blocking the country's EU accession bid, suggesting a "partnership" instead of full membership.

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French President Emmanuel Macron suggested Friday that the European Union develop a partnership with Turkey after its leader said he was "seriously tired" of waiting for the bloc to decide if it wants Turkey as a member.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Paris for talks with Macron, part of efforts to improve his government's strained relationship with Europe. Macron confirmed that Turkey's wait for EU membership was far from over and suggested a partnership instead in the meantime.

The current process "does not allow for an outcome in the coming years," Macron said during a joint news conference with Erdogan, adding that he thought stringing Turkey along was hypocritical.

Erdogan made it plain that Turkey would not wait forever.

"One cannot permanently implore and wait to be finally included," he said, adding that frustration over the EU stance might tempt Ankara to turn its back to Europe.

'Macron's offer was not good for the people of Turkey'

Ties between Turkey and Europe worsened last year amid mass arrests and firings carried out by Erdogan's government following a July 2016 coup attempt. Relations deteriorated further after authorities in several countries prevented Turkish ministers from holding political rallies to court expatriates' votes in a referendum to expand the president's powers.

Erdogan unleashed a series of insults at NATO allies, accusing European officials of racism, harboring terrorists and behaving like Nazis.

The Turkish president was less bombastic, but just as emphatic, on Friday while discussing his country's decades-long pursuit of Europe's acceptance.

"Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963. And it's now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU," Erdogan said.

Macron said the two leaders held "frank" talks on Turkey's bid for EU membership and the human rights situation in Turkey a major sticking point.

"We should ... see if we cannot rethink this relationship, not in the framework of the (EU) integration process, but perhaps a cooperation, a partnership," he said, adding the main goal must be to keep Turkey a NATO member "anchored" in Europe and its "future ... built looking toward Europe and with Europe."

Macron and Erdogan also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight against terror and the war in Syria. France and Turkish officials also signed defense, banking and commercial deals, including the planned sale of 25 Airbus A330s to Turkish Airlines.

Macron and Erdogan vow closer cooperation between France and Turkey

The trip was Erdogan's first to France since his government strongly cracked down on suspected opponents following a failed coup in July 2016. About 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs in Turkey. Many have protested they are innocent.

Protests over deteriorating press freedoms and human rights abuses in Turkey greeted Erdogan upon his arrival.

About 30 activists from Reporters without Borders held images of jailed journalists outside the Turkish Embassy. A dozen demonstrators, mainly ethnic Kurds, later tried to reach the presidential Elysee palace, but police pushed them back.

The French Communist Party and several left-wing parties have criticized Erdogan's visit to France, which came the day before the fifth anniversary of the slayings in Paris of three Kurdish women activists.

"The French judicial system has pointed out Turkish secret services' involvement in this crime," the Communist Party said.

Macron said he raised the issues of media freedom and fundamental human rights with Erdogan, giving the Turkish leader a list of journalists and non-governmental workers he thinks were wrongly targeted during the post-coup crackdown.

"We will find concrete and real solutions that will allow the few cases to be settled, and to settle what has sometimes been a misunderstanding, a harmful misunderstanding," Macron said.

Erdogan responded that some "columnists and opinion leaders are the gardeners of terrorism."

While Erdogan traveled to Paris, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is scheduled to meet with German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.

'Erdogan didn’t get the support he was looking for'

(AP)</s>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Ankara is "tired" of its sluggish European Union membership process, noting that it cannot indefinitely be requesting to join the bloc.

His comments on Friday came during a visit to Paris, where he held talks his his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.

"We cannot continuously ask the EU, 'please take us, too' now," Erdogan said during a joint news conference, accusing the bloc of leaving Turkey "waiting outside the door" of the bloc for decades.

Turkey applied for membership in the European Economic Community, a precursor to the EU, in 1987. It became eligible for EU membership in 1997 and accession talks began in 2005. However, these negotiations have been practically frozen, with no progress made in recent years.

"When we ask for the reason, the EU cannot tell us. And, at first they were preventing us via 15 [EU policy] chapters; later the number of the chapters regarding us was increased to 35."

In order to become a member of the bloc, Turkey has to successfully conclude negotiations with the EU in 35 policy chapters that involve reforms and the adoption of European standards.

Macron also struck a pessimistic tone about Turkey's stalled EU bid, saying the dialogue between the two sides should perhaps be "rethought ... not in the framework of membership but maybe 

of cooperation or or partnership".

 

"Recent developments and choices do not allow any progress," the French president said, noting, however, that "as France, we believe that future of Turkey and Turkish people should be in Europe".

A number of EU member states has condemned the Turkish government's arrests and purges of tens of thousands of people after a failed coup attempt in July 2016. Local and international rights groups have accused Ankara of using the putsch bid as a pretext to silence opposition in the country.

The government has said the purges and detentions are aimed at removing from state institutions and other parts of society the supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based, self-exiled religious leader blamed by Ankara for the attempted coup.

"Turkey is ruled by law," Erdogan said at the press conference. "Europe always tells us that judiciary must be independent. Well, in Turkey, our judiciary is independent. They make their own decisions independently."

For his part, Macron said "democracy must be strong against terrorism because the legitimacy of the state means it must protect its citizens. But at the same time our democracies must respect the rule of law".

Erdogan's visit to France was his first since the failed coup attempt, and one of only a handful to Europe. He was confronted by a dozen human rights protesters who attempted to block his arrival to Elysee Palace.

Al Jazeera's Natacha Butler, reporting from Paris, said that "there was a real focus on Turkey's relationship with the EU, because it really has deteriorated over the past two years".

She added that Macron "raised the issue of human rights" but also noted that "he is very pragmatic".

"He [Macron] does not believe that that should necessarily get in the way of Turkey having a good relationship with France, and Turkey cooperating on issues such as controlling undocumented migration to Europe and the fight against terrorism,'" said Butler.</s>French President Emmanuel Macron told Turkish autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday that democratic countries had to respect the rule of law in their fight against terrorism as he voiced concerns about the fate of students, teachers and journalists in Turkey.

According to a report by Reuters, Macron said after talks with Erdoğan at the Elysee presidential palace that they had disagreements about how they saw human rights. “Our democracies must be strong standing up to terrorism… But at the same time our democracies must completely protect the rule of law,” Macron said in a joint news conference.

Macron also said that recent developments in Turkey did not allow for any progress in Ankara’s EU accession process. It would be hypocritical to pretend new chapters in the accession talks could be opened, he said.

Macron has also said that he had raised the cases of specific journalists and members of Galatasaray University with Erdoğan, but declined to say which. Galatasaray University was founded after an agreement signed between French and Turkish governments in 1992.

However, Erdoğan defended the crackdown saying that some journalists encouraged terrorism with their writing, comparing them to gardeners nurturing plants. “These gardeners are those people viewed as thinkers. They water … from their columns on newspapers,” Erdoğan said. “And one day, you find, these people show up as a terrorist in front of you.”

Erdoğan also grew visibly upset by a question about Syria asked by a French journalist during the press conference. The Turkish leader was visibly irritated when the French journalist Laurent Richard asked him about a 2015 story by the Cumhuriyet daily about Turkish government sending weapons to the jihadist terror groups in Syria.

Erdoğan said the operation had been conducted by supporters of Fethullah Gülen, the US-based Turkish-Muslim scholar, and accused the French journalist of speaking like one of them. “When you ask your questions, be careful on this point. And do not speak with the words of another,” Erdoğan arrogantly warned the reporter, by raising his hand. “And I want you to know, you do not have someone before you who will easily swallow this,” he added.

The French reporter could be heard saying that “I am speaking as a journalist.”

Meanwhile, protests over press freedom and the deteriorating state of human rights in Turkey greeted Erdoğan as he arrived in Paris on Friday for talks with French President Macron.

The trip is Erdoğan’s first to France since his government strongly cracked down on suspected opponents following a failed coup in July 2016. About 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs in Turkey.

About 30 activists from watchdog group Reporters without Borders (RSF) held images of jailed journalists outside the Turkish Embassy. A dozen demonstrators, mainly ethnic Kurds, later tried to reach the presidential Elysee Palace, but police pushed them back onto a side street.

The French Communist Party and several left-wing parties have criticized Erdoğan’s visit to France, which came the day before the fifth anniversary of the slayings in Paris of three Kurdish women activists.

“The French judicial system had pointed out Turkish secret services’ involvement in this crime,” the Communist Party said in a statement.

On Turkey’s accession process to the European Union (EU), Macron underlined Turkey’s continued engagement with the Council of Europe (CoE) and European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). However, Macron was careful to avoid making encouraging statements on Turkey’s prospected membership to the EU, saying “a new formulation needs to be created” to re-define Ankara-Brussels ties.

“The accession process has halted,” he said, leaving little room for hopes that it will revive soon as no new negotiation chapter can be opened. However, he hailed EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s efforts to engage with Turkey on all these issues.

For his part, regarding Macron’s words about the EU accession process, Erdoğan said that “This is seriously exhausting us. Maybe this will force us to take a decision.”

“Turkey has been unfortunately made to wait at the door of the EU for the last 54 years. There is no other country like Turkey in the EU and the EU does not give any reason to us (for not accepting Turkey),” Erdoğan added.</s>French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that political developments in Turkey were blocking the country’s EU accession bid, suggesting a “partnership” instead of a full membership.

“For relations with the European Union, it is clear that recent developments and choices allow no progress in the process,” Xinhua cited France 24 TV channel which quoted Macron as saying.

“I’d be lying if I said we could open new chapters,” he said at a press conference with visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, referring to Turkey’s accession process.

Erdogan, for his part, said his country was sick of waiting to join the European Union after half a century.

“Turkey has been waiting in the EU antechamber for 54 years. When it comes to saying why, the EU is not really capable of giving reasons,” Erdogan was quoted as saying.

Although Turkey is hoping to warm frosty relations with Europe, Erdogan’s talks with Macron were overshadowed by difference over Turkey’s actions following a failed coup in July 2016.

Fethullah Gulen, a US-based preacher, is accused by Ankara of orchestrating the coup attempt. At least 250 people were killed and over 2,000 people were injured in the coup attempt.

The Turkish government declared a state of emergency and launched a massive crackdown on Gulen’s supporters in the aftermath of the coup attempt.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App</s>Turkey has got "tired" of its EU membership process and it cannot request for the bloc's membership indefinitely, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, Anadolu reported.

“We cannot continuously ask the EU ‘please take us, too’ now,” Erdogan said at a joint press conference with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

Turkey applied for membership in the European Economic Community, a precursor to the EU, in 1987.</s>At a press conference with Turkish President in Paris, Emmanuel Macron said Friday that political developments in Turkey were blocking the country’s EU accession bid, suggesting a “partnership” instead of full membership.

French President Emmanuel Macron suggested Friday that the European Union develop a partnership with Turkey after its leader said he was “seriously tired” of waiting for the bloc to decide if it wants Turkey as a member.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Paris for talks with Macron, part of efforts to improve his government’s strained relationship with Europe. Macron confirmed that Turkey’s wait for EU membership was far from over and suggested a partnership instead in the meantime.

The current process “does not allow for an outcome in the coming years,” Macron said during a joint news conference with Erdogan, adding that he thought stringing Turkey along was hypocritical.

Erdogan made it plain that Turkey would not wait forever.

“One cannot permanently implore and wait to be finally included,” he said, adding that frustration over the EU stance might tempt Ankara to turn its back to Europe.

Ties between Turkey and Europe worsened last year amid mass arrests and firings carried out by Erdogan’s government following a July 2016 coup attempt. Relations deteriorated further after authorities in several countries prevented Turkish ministers from holding political rallies to court expatriates’ votes in a referendum to expand the president’s powers.

Erdogan unleashed a series of insults at NATO allies, accusing European officials of racism, harboring terrorists and behaving like Nazis.

The Turkish president was less bombastic, but just as emphatic, on Friday while discussing his country’s decades-long pursuit of Europe’s acceptance.

“Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963. And it’s now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU,” Erdogan said.

Macron said the two leaders held “frank” talks on Turkey’s bid for EU membership and the human rights situation in Turkey a major sticking point.

“We should … see if we cannot rethink this relationship, not in the framework of the (EU) integration process, but perhaps a cooperation, a partnership,” he said, adding the main goal must be to keep Turkey a NATO member “anchored” in Europe and its “future … built looking toward Europe and with Europe.”

Macron and Erdogan also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight against terror and the war in Syria. France and Turkish officials also signed defense, banking and commercial deals, including the planned sale of 25 Airbus A330s to Turkish Airlines.

The trip was Erdogan’s first to France since his government strongly cracked down on suspected opponents following a failed coup in July 2016. About 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs in Turkey. Many have protested they are innocent.

Protests over deteriorating press freedoms and human rights abuses in Turkey greeted Erdogan upon his arrival.

About 30 activists from Reporters without Borders held images of jailed journalists outside the Turkish Embassy. A dozen demonstrators, mainly ethnic Kurds, later tried to reach the presidential Elysee palace, but police pushed them back.

The French Communist Party and several left-wing parties have criticized Erdogan’s visit to France, which came the day before the fifth anniversary of the slayings in Paris of three Kurdish women activists.

“The French judicial system has pointed out Turkish secret services’ involvement in this crime,” the Communist Party said.

Macron said he raised the issues of media freedom and fundamental human rights with Erdogan, giving the Turkish leader a list of journalists and non-governmental workers he thinks were wrongly targeted during the post-coup crackdown.

“We will find concrete and real solutions that will allow the few cases to be settled, and to settle what has sometimes been a misunderstanding, a harmful misunderstanding,” Macron said.

Erdogan responded that some “columnists and opinion leaders are the gardeners of terrorism.”

While Erdogan traveled to Paris, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is scheduled to meet with German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.</s>Paris, Jan 5 (AFP) French President Emmanuel Macron suggested today that Turkey should renounce its ambition of joining the EU and settle instead for a looser "partnership" after talks with visiting Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey was hoping to warm frosty relations with Europe during Erdogan's trip to Paris, but the talks were overshadowed by concerns over Turkey's huge crackdown after a 2016 failed coup.

Macron said there was no chance of Turkey's membership bid, which has been languishing for years, moving forward.

"I'd be lying if I said we could open new chapters," he said in reference to the accession process.

"As regards recent relations with the European Union, it is clear that recent developments and choices allow no chance for progress in the process," Macron said after what he described as "very frank" talks with Turkey's strongman.

"We must list the subjects that are blocking things from the EU's perspective... and see if we cannot rethink this relationship, not in terms of an integration process but a cooperation, a partnership," he added at a joint press conference.

He emphasised however that he wanted to see Turkey "remain anchored to Europe".

Erdogan said that Turkey's 54-year wait to join the EU was "seriously exhausting" the Turkish people and that he might be forced "to take a decision." He did not specify what that might be but admitted: "We don't really have an attitude of 'let us in' (to the EU) anymore." The visit was Erdogan's first to France since the botched putsch against him, which triggered a sweeping purge of the public service and an intensified crackdown on the media, civil society and opposition.

It came after a year in which Turkish-European relations hit a low point, with Erdogan notably accusing Chancellor Angela Merkel of "Nazi practices" for refusing to let his ministers campaign in Germany.

Macron's invitation to Erdogan drew sharp criticism from the French left, trade unions and rights groups, and a group of Kurdish demonstrators who attempted to demonstrate outside the Elysee Palace on Friday were arrested.

The Reporters Without Borders group protested outside the Turkish embassy in Paris, holding aloft stencilled portraits of imprisoned journalists.

The French presidency insisted on the need to "maintain dialogue" without "covering up differences".

Tensions spilled over during Erdogan's meeting with the French press when a journalist pressed him on a report that Turkish intelligence services shipped arms to radical groups in Syria.

"Do not speak with the mouth of FETO," Erdogan retorted, referring to the Fethullah Terror Organisation -- the term Ankara uses for the movement of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of being behind the failed coup as well as the Syria arms report.

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.</s>"Our democracies must be strong standing up to terrorism… But at the same time our democracies must completely protect the rule of law," Macron said in a joint news conference with Tayyip Erdogan after talks in Paris, in reference to the issue of imprisoned journalists which he vowed to raise prior to the talks.

Responding to Macron's stance, the Turkish president noted that terrorism did not create itself, calling columnists and opinion leaders "gardeners" of terrorism.

Before the meeting, on January 4, Special Advisor to the Turkish President Ibrahim Kalin slammed Macron's position on the issue, due to the latter's "lack of information on the issue" and announced that Erdogan would present some documents explaining in a "detailed" manner why the people detained are members of a terror group.

The discussion was to touch the fate of two French citizens detained in Turkey last year over terror charges: Mathias Depardon and Loup Bureau.

In total, about 151 journalists have been imprisoned in the country since July 2016, when a state of emergency was declared due to a failed coup attempt, according to the P24 press freedom group.

Speaking on Turkey's possible accession to the EU, long-cherished by Ankara, the French president has stated that the recent developments in the country do not allow it, adding that it would be deceptive to pretend new chapters in the joining talks could be opened.

Erdogan has struck the blow aside by saying that waiting for membership in the European Union "exhausts" Turks.

Countering the Turkish president's stance, Macron stated that the EU could offer Tukey "partnership" instead of membership.

The story of much-anticipated Turkey's accession to the EU dates back to 1963, when the country has signed EU Association agreement with the bloc. After that, the country reiterated its bid in 1987 by submitting a membership proposal. Formal talks on Turkey's accession to the bloc started in 2005. In March 2016, its candidature received a boost when it signed a migration deal with the European Union, but was suddenly derailed by EU objections regarding the Turkish government's clampdown in wake of the failed coup in July 2016.

The long "exhausting" wait prompted Erdogan to announce on March 25, 2017 that Turkey could hold a referendum to decide if they really even need to join the bloc — on the very day the EU was celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Recently, however, the Turkish president has resumed accession talks with renewed vigor, describing Germany's, Netherlands' and Belgium's governments as "old friends," stressing that their last contacts were "quite good," particularly over the Jerusalem issue.</s>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is “seriously tired” of waiting for the European Union to decide if it wants his country as a member.

Mr Erdogan was in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, part of efforts to improve his government’s strained relationship with Europe.

Mr Macron confirmed that Turkey’s wait for EU membership was far from over, and suggested a partnership in the meantime.

The current process “does not allow for an outcome in the coming years,” Mr Macron said during a joint news conference with Mr Erdogan, adding that stringing Turkey along was hypocritical.

Mr Erdogan made it plain that Turkey would not wait forever.

“One cannot permanently implore and wait to be finally included,” he said, adding that frustration might tempt Ankara to turn its back to Europe.

Ties between Turkey and Europe worsened last year amid mass arrests and firings carried out by Mr Erdogan’s government following a July 2016 coup attempt.

Relations deteriorated further after authorities in several countries prevented Turkish ministers from holding political rallies to court expatriates’ votes in a referendum to expand the president’s powers.

Mr Erdogan unleashed a series of insults at Nato allies, accusing European officials of racism, harbouring terrorists and behaving like Nazis.

The Turkish president was less bombastic, but just as emphatic, today while discussing his country’s decades-long pursuit of Europe’s acceptance.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris today

“Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963. And it’s now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU,” Mr Erdogan said.

Mr Macron said the two leaders held “frank” talks on Turkey’s bid for EU membership and the human rights situation in Turkey – a major sticking point.

“We should… see if we cannot rethink this relationship, not in the framework of the (EU) integration process, but perhaps a cooperation, a partnership,” he said, adding the main goal must be to keep Turkey – a Nato member – “anchored” in Europe and its “future… built looking towards Europe and with Europe”.

Mr Macron and Mr Erdogan also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight against terror and the war in Syria.

France and Turkish officials also signed defence, banking and commercial deals, including the planned sale of 25 Airbus A330s to Turkish Airlines.

The trip was Mr Erdogan’s first to France since his government strongly cracked down on suspected opponents following the failed coup.

About 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs in Turkey. Many have protested they are innocent.

While Mr Erdogan travelled to Paris, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is scheduled to meet with German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.</s>PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that political developments in Turkey were effectively blocking its EU accession bid, suggesting a "partnership" instead of full membership.

At a testy joint press conference following talks in Paris, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turks were sick of waiting to join the European Union after half a century.

"For relations with the European Union, it is clear that recent developments and choices allow no progress in the process," Macron said.

"I'd be lying if I said we could open new chapters," he said in reference to the accession process.

Ankara was hoping to warm frosty relations with Europe during Erdogan's trip, but the talks were overshadowed by concerns over Turkey's huge post-coup crackdown and the arrest of journalists.

Neither Macron nor Erdogan hid their pessimism over the state of Turkey's long-running bid to join the EU.

"We have had a very honest discussion on this subject," Macron told reporters, saying both sides needed to leave "hypocrisy" behind in pretending the process was moving forward normally.

"I hope we can take up a peaceful dialogue that would allow us to build a relationship which is essential in my eyes, both for ourselves and for the region," Macron added.

Turkey has been seeking to join the EU for decades, but leaders both at home and in Europe have expressed increasing doubts over the progress following mass arrests and sackings after the failed coup in 2016.

Over 140,000 people have been sacked or suspended, accused of links to the movement run by US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by Ankara of orchestrating the attempted coup.

More than 55,000 officials, security force members, judges, academics, journalists and activists have been arrested since the coup, which has been accompanied by a crackdown on pro-Kurdish activists.

"Democracies must fully respect the rule of law," Macron warned Erdogan.

For his part, Erdogan said the wait for EU membership was becoming "exhausting" for Turkish citizens.

"This is seriously exhausting us and seriously exhausting our nation. Maybe this will force us to take a decision," he said, without specifying what that might be.

"Turkey has been waiting in the EU antechamber for 54 years. When it comes to saying why, the EU is not really capable of giving reasons."

Turkey is currently blocked on 35 "chapters", or policy areas, of the negotiations, he added.
French President Emmanuel Macron suggests that Turkey could have a "partnership" with the EU instead of full membership.