Chirac clashes with Bush over Turkey[fr] 

It is old news in Brussels that the US is backing Turkey's bid to join the EU. However, US President George W. Bush's remarks on this matter on 27 June proved a bit to much to swallow for French President Jacques Chirac.

On a trip to Ankara ahead of the NATO summit in Istanbul Bush praised Turkey as a model Muslim democracy, and then went on to say: "I will remind the people of this good country that you ought to be given a date by the EU for your eventual acceptance into the EU."

President Chirac felt that Bush was clearly going a bridge too far with this piece of advice: "Not only did he go too far, he ventured into territory which is not his concern," said Chirac, adding that Bush's remarks were like Chirac telling the US how to manage relations with Mexico.

The European Council is set to decide in December 2004 on whether or not to start membership negotiations with Turkey.