Strasbourg, France, Oct 1, SPA -- French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder met Friday in this eastern city to discuss the crisis in Iraq and Turkey's eventual entry into the European Union. Chirac was expected to address the question of holding areferendum in France on Turkey's membership in the EU, atopic under increasing debate here. Leaders of the 25 EU nations are to decide at a Brusselsmeeting Dec. 17-18 whether or not to open negotiations withAnkara. The crises in Iraq and the Middle East also were amongitems on the agenda of the informal talks that began at thelocal prefecture and were continuing at a restaurant in theAlsatian capital. The meeting, part of regular bilateral talks that the twoleaders hold, comes a month after they traveled to Russiafor talks with President Vladimir Putin. The three-way summit at Putin's residence in the Black Searesort of Sochi brought together the leaders for the thirdtime since they united in strong opposition to the U.S.invasion of Iraq. All three nations have refused to send troops to Iraq tohelp in peacekeeping and rebuilding efforts. France andGermany have said they would help train Iraqi officers butonly outside Iraq, while Russia has offered to help traincivilian personnel and said it would consider restructuringIraq's multibillion dollar debt through the Paris club ofcreditor nations.--SPA1255 Local Time 0955 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/207069