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Friday, November 26, 2004

FT.com / Comment & analysis / Editorial comment - A bit too late to go cold on Turkey

"A bit too late to go cold on Turkey
Published: November 26 2004 02:00 | Last updated: November 26 2004 02:00

In three weeks' time, European Union leaders must make up their minds whether Turkey can be admitted to accession negotiations that in 10 to 15 years should make it a member of their club. Val�ry Giscard d'Estaing, the former French president who headed the recent convention to devise a new constitution for the EU, explained in these pages yesterday why they should say No. We beg to differ.

There is a perfectly legitimate argument to be had here - and Turkey had better get used to it because this is going to be a long and rough ride. The debate should be out in the open, and it is pointless to pretend - as Mr Giscard tries to do - that the religion question is not part of it. It plainly is."
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