Gul rejects link between French vote, Turkey EU bid

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday condemned suggestions that French rejection of the European Union's new constitution in a referendum this month could harm Ankara's bid to join the wealthy bloc.

Turkish and European media have speculated that a French "No" on May 29 could lead the EU to delay the start of entry talks with Turkey, set for October 3, due to the political and legal confusion such a rejection would trigger within the bloc.

"We find such thinking irrelevant, unfortunate and unacceptable," Mr Gul said in a speech to EU ambassadors in Ankara.

There is no direct link between the EU's draft constitution and Turkey, but many French voters are opposed to Turkish membership of the Union, and the issue is cited as a possible reason for voting "No" in the referendum.

Recent polls in France suggest voters are evenly split on how to vote on the constitution, which is intended to make the EU work more smoothly following its enlargement to 25 member states in May 2004.

Mr Gul said his government knew Turkey's accession negotiations would be lengthy and difficult but he reaffirmed its commitment to making the "finishing line".

Turkey is not expected to join the EU before 2015 at the earliest.