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Interview given by M. Nicolas SARKOZY, President of the Republic, to the "Le Figaro" newspaper - excerpts -

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Paris, 7 June 2007

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EU/TURKEY

Q. - At the June European Council, you won't be opposing Turkey's accession to the EU. Have you changed your mind?

THE PRESIDENT - My priority in Europe is to get the simplified treaty. But if I raise the issue of Turkey at the same time, there won't be a simplified treaty. I haven't changed my mind: Turkey doesn't have a place in Europe. But the meeting is in December, not June. I have begun discussions with Mr Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, to get him to understand that my position is in no way directed against the Turks but relates to the essential issue of Europe's borders. After the June European Council, I'll be proposing a strategy whereby we won't wreck Europe and, at the same time, no longer continue with the accession strategy.

Q. - How far have things got with the negotiation on a simplified European treaty?

THE PRESIDENT - They're making headway because some of our partners have understood that, by electing a president who had the courage to commit himself to parliamentary ratification, France is providing the key to resolving the European crisis. We've still got to agree on the content of the simplified treaty. It can't be a Constitution, which the French didn't want. There's got to be some substance: a stable European Council presidency, a European foreign minister, broader areas subject to qualified majority voting and a reference to fundamental rights. Today, no one is any longer saying it's impossible.

G8

Q. - What are you expecting from the G8?

THE PRESIDENT - I'm keen for there to be an agreement on a specific target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We can't compromise on this. I'm a friend of the United States, a resolute ally and a friend without any ulterior motives. But I'm telling the Americans: they have to make an effort. The world's leading power can't exempt itself from setting the example on maintaining our planet's ecological balances. The second vital objective is to mobilize greater resources to help Africa. Who can't see that there's a link between the two objectives? In Darfur, populations are being displaced because of the drought and this is leading to barbaric clashes. I want to promote a different Africa policy which consists in talking frankly to the Africans. I believe in the right to universal access to treatment for AIDS in 2010. But I want to speak the truth to the Africans: their problems don't come only from outside Africa.

DARFUR

Q. - In Darfur, what should be done? Humanitarian corridors? Sanctions against Khartoum?

THE PRESIDENT - Darfur has 200 refugee camps in a territory the size of France. And it's the rainy season···

But we can't stand idly by. We must deal urgently with the three dimensions of this tragedy: security, with the deployment of a UN-African Union force, the relaunch of a political negotiation and, finally, every possible form of humanitarian aid. I'll be talking about this at the G8 and, at my request, Bernard Kouchner is going over there in the next few days.

RUSSIA

Q. - How are you approaching your meeting with Vladimir Putin?

THE PRESIDENT - It is very important to have good relations with Russia. The Russians are a great people, Russia is a great nation. I am well aware of Mr Putin's difficulties, his problems and his successes. It will be very interesting to see him, to listen to what he says and understand him. What is motivating him? Russia has become a great world country again. That should lead her to wisdom and calm. I'll tell Mr Putin that friendship also means frankness. He is frank when he talks about his disagreement with the Americans on the antimissile system. I don't take that as being unfriendly. So he shouldn't view as unfriendly the questions raised on human rights and the market economy in Russia. I'm going to meet him with the desire for us to understand each other and also want him to accept that we don't all inevitably have the same policy.

ANTIMISSILE SHIELD

Q. - Is it a good idea to deploy this antimissile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic? Why haven't the Europeans talked about this between themselves?

THE PRESIDENT - This shield can't be effective against Russian missiles precisely because of its proximity. It is perhaps aggressive towards Russia politically, but not militarily. It would have been better to have European consultations on this, that's certain. Mr Putin is right to tell us that we have to understand Russian national feeling, but I ask him to take his thinking further. Let's understand Poland's history; let's understand the Czech Republic's history. (···).

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