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| Europe |
| Turkeyâs EU Prospects Gloomy |
| 2003-09-04 |
| From Turkish Press Review: DâESTAING GLOOMY ON TURKEYâS EU PROSPECTS The European Unionâs attempts to admit Turkey into its ranks are unlikely to yield a positive outcome, claimed European Convention Chairman Valery Giscard dâEstaing at a Strasbourg press conference yesterday. âIf we want full-scale integration within our European countries, we have to build a homogenous structure and preserve it,â claimed dâEstaing, a former French president, adding, âI donât see that possible with Turkey in the Union.â Ah, the French. Continuing to win friends and influence people. DâEstaing furthermore proposed that instead of accession to the Union, Turkey could improve its ties with the EU by following the example of the relationship between the US and Mexico. By exploiting cheap labor? Late last year, dâEstaing publicly alleged that Turkeyâs accession to the EU would bring about âthe endâ of the Union, causing a firestorm of controversy both in Turkey and the EU. âTHE EU ISNâT READY FOR TURKEYâS ACCESSIONâ Speaking at a press conference following her meeting with visiting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday, German opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel claimed that the European Union was not yet ready to admit Turkey, citing as reason the EUâs current economic woes. âThis has nothing to do with Turkeyâs being a Muslim country or the nationâs cultural differences,â added Merkel. Of course not. âThe latest enlargement wave has placed additional burdens on the Unionâs economy, which, for the present time, does not allow the EU to take Turkey in as a member.â "Take a number, weâll get back to you." |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #15 Well once again France is damned if they do and damned if they don't! If they were for Turkey joining the EU the Rantbourgeois would be screeching about the Islamization of the EU--and the Turkish Trojan Horse! Since they are against it--now they're "unjuste" gimme a break! Turkey is/will never be a European country! Wonder what the Germans think since they have far more Turks in their Vaterland that they like about as much as the French like the Tunisians,Algerians,etc in their country? |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2003-9-4 11:28:11 PM |
| #14 France to Turkey: I'll hold the football right here, while you try to kick it - again. |
| Posted by: A Jackson 2003-9-4 9:14:44 PM |
| #13 Valentine, I understand that invasion would not be a sucessful strategy for Turkey. I am saying that I am not laughing about France flipping Turkey the bird. I have known several Turks personally. I would not expect the Turks to act rationally when painted into a corner. I was on a ship that was actually located in the Suez Canal headed CONUS bound when Sadaam decided he needed all of Kuaitt instead of just a couple of islands. The US had only four combatant ships assigned to the Persian Gulf at the day. Our goal was to reduce that number to two ships in the near term. People from other countries are know for acting in ways that Americans cannot fathom. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-9-4 3:17:05 PM |
| #12 Well, now Turkey know how it feels to be screwed by the pooch. Who says we don't have anything in common. Rule 1. - Never trust the frogs. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-9-4 2:58:15 PM |
| #11 But don't worry Murat. France will be a Muslim country in another 20 years and will then welcome Turkey into the EU. |
| Posted by: Denny 2003-9-4 1:31:21 PM |
| #10 I understand that there are a lot of politicians in Ankara hobbling around with holes in both their feet. |
| Posted by: Hiryu 2003-9-4 1:23:48 PM |
| #9 Super Hose, those tanks would be so much flaming metal if they tried that stunt. If our ground forces are overstretched, our air units AREN'T. |
| Posted by: Valentine 2003-9-4 1:07:53 PM |
| #8 This is not good news. If I were sitting in Turkey's shoes, I would take Northern Iraq immediately. I would look down the road and not like seeing Greece on the inside of the EU, with me looking out. Gaining control of oil reserves would be my recourse. I would hope that the U.S. would be too extended to stop the advance of my tanks. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-9-4 12:59:15 PM |
| #7 Amen, Bulldog! Come join a new alliance - The Coalition of Free Men. Much better than being subservient to the Frogs. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-9-4 12:01:55 PM |
| #6 âIf we want full-scale integration within our European countries, we have to build a homogenous structure and preserve it ... I donât see that possible with Turkey in the Union.â Thanks, Valerie "Goebbels" D'Estaing. You will tell us when we're not "homogenous" enough for you, won't you? Sheesh, the sooner we're out of this the better. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-9-4 11:42:20 AM |
| #5 Well, it's just as I suspected. RE: Aris's comments on Ledeen from yesterday. I have little doubt that the French would have blackmailed Turkey's Kemalists, as it fit their pre-war diplomatic pattern. (cf. Francophone African nations) It was also an easy threat to make, since we see that they have no intention of letting Turkey in anyway. The nationalists undoubtably feared the Kurds, but they would have been better served being on board with a U.S. attack than outside looking in. This is one reason that I'm somewhat less angry than a lot of Rantburgers about Turkish perfidy. It doomed the realpolitik punks at State's efforts to betray the Kurds yet again. |
| Posted by: Ernest Brown 2003-9-4 11:15:13 AM |
| #4 not sure who should be more insulted; Turkey or Mexico. "There are shitty little countries, and shitty big countries, aussi. Alors, mangeon le chocolat." |
| Posted by: john 2003-9-4 11:02:45 AM |
| #3 But...but...but we f*cked the U.S. just like you asked us to....hey...you PROMISED....hello ?????....Jacques???....are you there??? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-9-4 10:56:21 AM |
| #2 "The latest enlargement wave has placed additional burdens on the Unionâs economy..." *snicker* Sorry, Murat, they don't need any more cheap labor, and they don't want any more competition, and they already have more than enough Muslim fanatics. Why don't you just go and ally yourself with the Americans and the Kurds. |
| Posted by: Tom 2003-9-4 10:42:28 AM |
| #1 *snicker* European Convention Chairman Valery Giscard dâEstaing: "How can we trust a Turkey that would turn so badly on their good friend America, just so they could use Euros?" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-9-4 10:31:21 AM |