VARIOUS: Congratulations for French president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy from across Europe and the Middle East

Congratulations for Nicolas Sarkozy from across Europe and the Middle East on his victory in the French presidential elections. German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Nicolas Sarkozy on his victory in the French elections in Berlin on Monday (May 7). Speaking to journalists, Merkel said "I have just telephoned the future French president, I have congratulated him. This is a great victory and we agreed that we will continue and intensify the French-German cooperation. I have wished him all the best and success for his new task and I believe we will have great cooperation with him". Merkel is currently presiding over Germany's rotating presidency of the European Union. She, like Sarkozy, is a conservative and has made reviving the stalled EU constitution a top priority of her EU presidency. French and Dutch voters rejected it in referenda two years ago, which means Sarkozy's support will be key for Merkel's success. In Ankara, Turkish Prime minister Tayyip Erdogan said he hoped the French election result would not affect ties between the two countries. "Both in terms of the EU process and French-Turkish relations, our wish is that we will not see the statements made by Mr Sarkozy during the election campaign having an effect on bilateral ties," Erdogan said. Sarkozy received 53.06 percent of the presidential vote in Sunday's (May 6) election against 46.94 percent for Socialist Segolene Royal, who had backed Turkey's eventual EU membership. During the election campaign, Sarkozy repeatedly stressed his opposition to Turkey, a large, relatively poor, overwhelmingly Muslim country, ever joining the EU. Ankara began EU entry talks in 2005 but talks on eight of the 35 policy areas, or 'chapters', have been suspended due to a row over Cyprus. Erdogan is currently embroiled in a crisis over Turkey's own presidential election. Opposition parties have forced the ruling AK Party's Abdullah Gul, who is foreign minister and one of the architects of Turkey's EU bid, to withdraw from the election. In Athens, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis sais that Sarkozy will bring new momentum to the European Union, and defined him as a man with clear policies, whether there was agreement or not on his views. "You might agree or disagree with Nikolas Sarkozy but I am sure everyone knows what he is talking about and what he believes," Bakoyannis said, adding that French people voted for frankness Bakoyannis expressed concern however over the French president's negative position on Turkey' EU accession. Greece is a staunch supporter of Turkey's membership in the European Union, believing that bringing the country into the EU fold will help solve historical territorial differences between the two neighbours. Bakoyannis said Greece would promote discussion on the issue and there was ample time in the future to engage in talks with the European Union members over Turkey's future, saying France will help to bring more open and concrete dialogue on where members agree and disagree. "I think some new movement is coming into the European Union and we needed that. Of course there are questions which are open, we are not in agrement with him, like the question of Turkey but we will see how it will (be) evaluated and what the European Union's positions will be on that," said Bakoyannis. Greece also sees differences with the course of the European constitution. Greece has ratified the current EU treaty that hit a snag in 2005 due to referendums in France and Netherlands, and supports a large treaty of European policies, where Sarkozy would like to see a simpler treaty passed. Bakoyannis said however that Sarkozy would help Europe to press forward on reforms and create "new movement" within the European body that is strongly needed. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also extended his congratulations to Sarkozy on Monday, speaking in Gaza City, Abbas' advisor Nabil Abu Rdainah told a Reuters reporter: "President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated the new French President Sarkozy and he expressed his complete hope that France will continue playing its positive role towards the peace process and towards the Palestinian people". The European Union said last week that aid from the bloc would continue to bypass the Palestinian government until it recognises Israel, renounces violence and abides by interim peace deals, as demanded by the Quartet of Middle East mediators and Israel. Sarkozy received 53.1 percent of the presidential vote against 46.9 for Socialist Segolene Royal, winning a mandate for his vision of a hardworking France despite leftist accusations he would prove a divisive, dangerous and abrasive leader.

ITN Source | May 7, 2007

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