Gul, the keynote speaker at the opening of the annual UNESCO meeting, is in Paris for a three-day visit as he seeks to soften French skepticism over his country's aspirations to join the European Union.

"Investing in the protection of cultural heritage means helping ... our societies, especially in times of crisis," Gul said, speaking in English. He said strengthening culture would help countries remain self-confident even amid economic turmoil.

Gul has made his country's cultural heritage the centerpiece of his visit to Paris.

Tensions over Turkey's bid for full-fledged EU membership _ which conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy fiercely opposes _ showed little signs of melting after Gul's meeting Thursday with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.

"The positions of each country were reiterated" at the talks, according to a statement from Fillon's office. Gul meets Sarkozy on Friday, as well as key French economic leaders.

Turkey is one of France's major trading partners outside the European Union and both countries have indicated they want closer economic ties. Expanding energy, aviation and infrastructure cooperation was on the agenda for Gul's meeting Thursday with the French premier.

The French capital has decked itself out with verve for Gul's visit. Since Tuesday, the Eiffel Tower has been lit every night with the red and white colors of the Turkish flag. This is the year of Turkish culture in France, and throughout the summer a Turkish cafe welcomed visitors in the Tuileries gardens and Turkish artists are performing throughout the city.

The key moment of Gul's visit to Paris will occur Friday, when he and Sarkozy open a major exhibit of art from Turkey at the Grand Palais.

Gul didn't mention it, but the French prime minister noted the "historic nature" of a planned signing this weekend of a historic agreement between Turkey and Armenia _ long bitter foes _ establishing diplomatic ties to lead to a reopening of their joint border.

Enmity stems above all from the World War I-era massacre of up to 1.5 million Armenians in the last days of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey claims the dead were civil war victims rather than victims of genocide.