Chirac eyes stormy path to EU-Turkey marriage

BRUSSELS, Dec 17 (AFP) - French President Jacques Chirac forecast Friday that the EU and Turkey will eventually forge a "marriage," but warned it will be a long and stormy courtship over the coming decade or more. "The road will be long and difficult," he said after European Unionleaders hammered out a compromise to clear the way to start EU membership talks with Ankara next October.

Chirac has had to juggle his support for Turkey's EU hopes with a pronounced skepticism among France's political class and public. He has notably promised a referendum on ratifying Turkey's eventual EU membership.

EU leaders agreed to launch negotiations on October 3, but set a series of tough conditions including a demand that Turkey sign a key diplomatic accord seen by some as amounting to de facto recognition of Cyprus.

They also made clear that Turkey cannot hope to join the EU before 2014 at the earliest. Chirac said earlier this week that they could last for up to 20 years.