World

　　French President Jacques Chirac said yesterday in Paris that he is opposed to Turkey's entry into the European Union for now but hopes to see it join in the future.

　　"Turkey's entry into the union is certainly not desirable in the short term," Chirac said at his first full-fledged news conference in six years. "My conviction is that it is in the long term."

　　With the EU set to expand to 25 members this week, Chirac added that Turkey had not yet met the conditions for entry and noted ongoing concern over issues ranging from human rights to judicial reform.

　　"The destiny of Turkey has always been deeply linked to Europe," Chirac said.

　　"Turkey has made considerable efforts," he said, adding, however, that "there is still a way to go."

　　Chirac also said the upcoming transfer of power in Iraq must be "unambiguous" and that the US-led occupation authorities in charge of the country must cede control.

　　"What would be disastrous is a compromise solution founded on ambiguity," with the US-led coalition still holding real power despite a UN presence. Any real transfer of power, Chirac said, must be effectively overseen by the United Nations.

　　"Today, it is urgent to give the Iraqis back their sovereignty," he said. "The problem is how."

　　In the run-up to the war, Chirac was one of the most outspoken voices against a US-led attack. Now he and other world leaders are pushing for Iraqi sovereignty and a UN role in Iraq.

　　Chirac's news conference focusing on EU expansion came weeks after Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told parliament that France would oppose Turkey's entry into the bloc now because it had not met the conditions for entry.

　　The European Commission in November noted "significant progress" by the Turkish government in meeting EU conditions for membership. However, it cited several areas where more needed to be done.

　　Predominantly Muslim Turkey has carried out sweeping reforms in the last two years as it tries to meet EU standards. It abolished the death penalty and has granted greater cultural rights to long-oppressed Kurds.

　　The EU is set to expand from 15 to 25 members tomorrow, and EU leaders are scheduled to decide in December whether to approve Turkey's candidacy.

　　Turkey could start membership talks in 2005.

　　(The Associated Press)