"Chirac rallies support for Turkey's EU bid
By Stephen Castle in Brussels
06 December 2004
President Jacques Chirac is pressing for key conditions to reassure French opinion before throwing his weight behind European Union membership talks with Turkey.
With EU leaders due to decide the issue next week, and with Tony Blair and the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schr�der, supporting the start of negotiations with Turkey, M. Chirac's position is central.
Although President Chirac personally backs Turkish membership, he is under pressure from political opponents, including many in his own party."
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