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ATHENS, May 30 (AFP) - 15h24 - Greece on Monday
ruled out holding a referendum on whether Turkey
should join the European Union, an issue which Greek
observers argue partly influenced French voters to
reject the EU constitution.
The two main Greek parties, the ruling conservative
New Democracy and the opposition Pasok socialists,
are both in favour of Turkey joining the EU and
regularly suggest a popular vote to endorse the
matter.
But an opinion poll conducted in December showed a
referendum may actually backfire, with 62 percent of
respondents saying that they would vote against the
mainly Muslim nation joining the bloc.
Asked whether Greece would consider a referendum on
the issue, government spokesman Theodoros
Roussopoulos replied "no, there is no such issue."
Greek media on Monday said part of the blame for
Sunday's French rejection of the constitution was
down to concerns over Turkey's entry, although
French President Jacques Chirac pointedly sought to
separate the two issues.
Greece and Turkey have been regional rivals in the
eastern Mediterranean, coming close to war on
several occasions, although their relations have
eased significantly in recent years.
AFP
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