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Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama differ on Turkey's EU membership bid.
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PRAGUE (EJP)---US President Barack Obama, who is on a two-day visit to Turkey Monday and Tuesday, has made a plea for this country’s admission to the European Union.
Speaking at a EU-US summit meeting in Prague on Sunday, Obama said Americans and Europeans "must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence, forging a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interest."
A Turkish membership in the EU would be "an important signal of your committment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe," the US president told the 27 EU heads of state or government.
Turkey has long been seeking to join the EU but there is opposition from within major EU member states such as France to its membership.
In response to Obama's statement, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a tv interview that the issue of membership is one for Europe to decide.
"I have been working hand-in-hand with President Obma but when it comes to the European Union it’s up to member states of the European Union to decide," he said.
Sarkozy said that Turkey was a "privileged partner" of the EU but was unsuited for EU membership.