Fresh from a diplomatic triumph at a European summit meeting here, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France on Monday blocked a key element of Turkey’s entry negotiations with the European Union, potentially derailing the large Muslim country’s efforts to join the bloc.
The move to block the opening of discussions on the key area of economic and monetary policy…comes at a critical time for Turkey, which is pursuing difficult political and economic reforms required for EU membership during an election year.
Sarkozy made his opposition to Turkey joining the EU a central element of his presidential campaign, telling voters that Turkey was geographically not part of Europe and arguing that the country had no place in an already overstretched union.
EU diplomats said that he had lobbied hard to prevent the opening of discussions with Turkey on economic and monetary policy because it could clear the way for its eventual membership in the euro and had particular political and symbolic resonance.
This actually means more about events affecting us all than, say, Paris Hilton leaving jail – or even the latest first-person shooter. Politics really do exist west of San Francisco and east of NYC.
I will be interesting to see reactions here in Germany.
It is a shame I cannot read the Turkish Hüriet Newspaper.
But I will ask my local Döner Kebab guy about the story. And I bet, most Turkish people here will argue close to the headline and only keep in mind that “the EU is against Turkey.” Full stop. End of argument.
They will love it.
The only reason Turkey is not in the “axis of evil” is that they wisely decided to pretend as much as they can to be on the side of a dominat world power.
Militarization, gencide against Kurds, invasion and occupation of peaceful neighbour (Cyprys) … Guess what is literally the best selling book there during past couple of years? Translation of Main Kampf…
At least, finally, some common sense in EU.
You are right. This is huge. Europe has gotten old. For unskilled labor, old Europe has looked to Turkey and the muslim world. Because of the youth and size of its population, Turkey would be an ideal fit for the European Union.
Jim Rogers, the Indiana Jones of international finance, thought so and emphasized how important it was to get Turkey in the EU. However, Marc Faber, a brilliant Swiss economist, thought it wouldn’t happen, but he didn’t say why. They have a video file on the web at jimrogers.com.
I went to an investors conference in New Orleans and asked Marc Faber about why he thought Turkey would not get into the European Union. You could summarize it in one word: relgion. Even though the Turks are not Arabs, they are Muslims. Europe is not ready for a predominantly Muslim country, even one as civilized as Turkey.
Turkey is what we dreamed of making Iraq into, a civilized but rough cut version of democracy. There could be no better force against Islamic fundamentalism than a successful Turkey. Unlike the militant Arab nations, it would be wonderful to see this version of Arab Democracy succeed financially because of economic ties to the West.
I think people have underestimated how little hope there is the Arab world among the middle and lower classes. One of the problems in the Arab world is how economically oppressive their government are. The most liberal and progressive Arab city is Dubai in the UAE, and even there the royal family takes a huge cut. It is much worse elsewhere.
People think of Arabs as rich, but in reality, the wealth is controlled by a handful of people. And you could say the same is true in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Even without the EU though, I think Turkey will continue to thrive. Europe needs the EU and Turkey needs the EU regardless of how small minded government officials think . My hope is that a strong Turkey marks the beginning of the end of Muslim terrorism.
Oh please #2. Axis of evil? Turkey is in NATO. They are our allies. Grow a brain.
mmmmm Döner Kebab, I lived in izmir Turkey for a while. A wonderful city.
Having lived there I never considered Turkey to be a Muslim country. There is religious freedom there.
And of course they have one of the greatest cities on the planet in Istanbul.
I’m not wasting my time reading all of the article. Although it seems that the French that oppose their EU membership are, well efffed.
Maybe France is concerned that Turkey might just be more civilized than they are?
Döner Kebab, BTW is meat thinly sliced and stacked on a vertical skewer then cooked next to a fire or electrical heating element (special made) and sliced off and served as it cooks. Now thanks to gunther I got to find some authentic Döner Kebab!!!!! Or at least some kurfta (sp).
John
Is Turkey getting the iPhone?
I agree with keeping Turkey out of the EU, but for a different reason than Sarkozy. From 1915 to 1917 Turkey killed approximately 1.5 million Armenians, more than half of the 2.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Included in those murdered was every member of my great grandmother’s family, save for her. She watched her extended family of nearly fifty members slaughtered before her eyes. She, a ten year old at the time, survived by hiding under a pile of bodies and later running off to an orphanage. Turkey has never apologized for this mass slaughter, and further it does not even recognize that such a genocide ever occurred. If Germany failed to recognize and apologize for its actions in the Holocaust it would certainly not be allowed to join the EU, and the same standard should be applied to Turkey.
But I can’t wait for Halo 3!
Cheap labour?
And I thought the Europeans only wanted Turkey because it was teeming with skinny 16 boys.
I haven’t seen much followup on Turkey’s ultimate refusal to let American troops mass and transit their country to attack Iraq.
They gave up 10’s of millions of dollars in direct attached aid to stick its thumb in GOUSA’s eye, and no consequences from what I have seen.
Why did they do that? I think France would have done the same, but they don’t need the money as much. Was it a ploy to get into the EU or based on wanting to be the ones that invade Kurdistan (sic) or what?
#10. The US invasion of Iraq was deeply unpopular in Turkey. The refusal to allow Turkish soil to be used for the invasion was the result of a vote in the Turkish parliament.
And has anyone else read David Pogue’s review of the iPhone? I was toying with the idea of getting one, but no way I am ponying up $599 to poke along on the Edge network if the NYT homepage is going to take over a minute to load.
#11
When even the Apple fanboys are blasting it, it means it’s of no use.
#13. weeeellll … Pogue liked it, Mossberg (no surprise) liked it – apps, UI, and so forth. The glass screen seems to be a hit – no iPod-like scratch magnet. I (no fanboy – never owned a Mac) watched the promo video & thought it was mucho slick piece of gear.
If it was $299, I would say that Edge speeds would be good enough. For $599, I want blazing fast access. Once they have a 3G version out, I am going to give it some serious consideration.
The EU has enough problems incorporating the newest members into the Union. It would not be a bad move to wait another five years before moving ahead with official negotiations with Turkey. The goals in between now and than are: enlarge the EMU membership (go Slovenia), complete the four freedoms for every EU state, and finalize the constitution and get it passed. The constitution is the hardest issue, but if they make Turkey ascension less provoking in the draft constitution France and Belgium may go along. The U.K.’s issues still remain most troublesome, however I’m sure acting EU President Angela Merkel can sweet talk the Brits into a compromise.
“EU diplomats said that he had lobbied hard to prevent the opening of discussions with Turkey on economic and monetary policy because it could clear the way for its eventual membership in the euro and had particular political and symbolic resonance.”
I doubt that economic forces were the main concern among the diplomats. I’ve attended several EU forums on campus and the most popular explanations are the already overstretched EU zone along with xenophobia. Besides Turkey is nowhere near the economic requirements laid out by the Treaty of Maastricht, nor could they maintain the economic stability required by the Growth and Stability Pack. Turkey in the EMU? oh yea in 15 years. In summary, capital abundant Western Europe needs to reach an equilibrium with labour abundant Eastern Europe before more rounds of enlargement occur.
Also, what is up with all the iPhone talk? Every story has 3-4 people yippin about it. It is a phone…albeit an amazing phone.
One of WKRP in Cincinnati’s best-known and most-loved episodes (“Turkeys Away”) is a comic account of a disastrous promotion. As a publicity stunt, the station drops live turkeys out of a helicopter over a shopping center as a Thanksgiving’s Day giveaway. The turkeys plunge to their deaths as shoppers run for their lives, all while Les Nessman describes the scene in words reminiscent of Herbert Morrison’s reporting of the Hindenburg disaster. A shaken Arthur Carlson later remarks, “As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.” It was named by TV Guide as one of the greatest episodes in television history.
European people in general I think are just not interested in a large Muslim country with a huge population becoming part of Europe. Also many think the European Union should be limited to countries located within the continent of Europe.
Since President Bush and Americans are pushing so hard for the benefit of Turkey, why don’t they make Turkey the 51st state? I am sure Americans wouldn’t mind getting those young, skilled people as part of their workforce. And Americans wouldn’t be as prejudice as the Europeans simply because they are Muslim, many would love the idea I am sure.
See #7’s comment. Mine would mirror his. Turkey’s genocidal tendencies and aggression continues today, Armenian’s and Pontic Greeks in the early 20th Century, Greek Cypriots, and Kurds.
They stifle free speech by making insulting Turkishness a crime. Hrant Dink, a Turkish citizen was gunned down after being charged of this crime. Now his son has been charged the same.
Denial is the last cycle of Genocide. Turkey still hasn’t learned. The only reason they are given a pass is the fact they are an ally of the U.S….and a fair weather one at best.
Anyone who has been following Turkey’s own internal politics knows that the country does not yet know what it wants itself. It should decide whether it wants secularism or sharia, EU or nationalism before the EU should negotiate. Also, it should be 100% at peace with all EU members including Cyprus and Greece. Negotiations should not be on until those issues are completely cleared up.
My personal opinion (after my fourth visit to the country last week) – veto. Istanbul is somewhat like Europe, but the rest of Turkey is not. Finally, the place is too corrupt to allow into the EU.
Turkey should never have tried to enter the Eu to begin with. The moderates just ended up putting the Islamists in power.