Cyprus-Forum.com

[boomerang]

Turkey warns against EU 'club of Christians'
12 hours ago

DAVOS, Switzerland (AFP) — Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan warned the European Union against becoming a "club of Christians" as he pushed Saturday for Ankara's membership in the bloc.

"If the EU finds itself as a club of Christians.... it is against the very soul of the EU," Babacan told reporters on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

EU heavyweights France and Germany are both opposed to full Turkish membership, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been particularly vocal on the issue, arguing that the mainly Muslim country does not belong in Europe.

Babacan regretted that the issue of religion had apparently become a factor in the debate on Turkey's accession.

"Religious lines should never be presented as a border," he said, adding that the current 27-nation composition of the European bloc already contained "huge differences" in terms of culture, religion and language.

"Yet, these countries have been successful to find communality," he said.

"At the end of the road, the decision has to be made over whether Turkey is going to add new richness to the EU, so that the EU has a truly global voice and a truly representative voice," he added.

Babacan also argued that allowing Turkey into the EU would allow the bloc to act as a bridge between the West and the Islamic world.

France and Germany have proposed offering a "privileged partnership" instead of full membership -- a compromise flatly rejected earlier this month by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey has so far opened talks in six of the 35 policy fields that candidates are required to complete before accession.

The EU froze negotiations on eight chapters in 2006 in response to Turkey's refusal to grant trade privileges to Cyprus, which Ankara does not recognise, under a customs union pact with the bloc.

Babacan also refuted worries that Turkey's powerful military -- which has unseated four governments in as many decades -- wants to scupper Ankara's EU, democratic and economic ambitions.

Relations between the army and the ruling Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) party are fraught, with the military fearful that the prime minister wants to roll back Turkey's cherished secular state.

Babacan said that democracy and freedom are fast becoming so engrained that a return to an undemocratic military autocracy closed to the outside world "isn't even going to be an issue."

"The reform process is becoming more and more irreversible. After opening up (the country) so much, anyone who dares to close the country to any extent will get into serious difficulties," Babacan said.

"This country ... has only one important way to go, and this is democratic. Human rights, freedoms and peace will be the new source of strength."

He added that Turkey's military supported joining the EU and that EU-Turkey negotiations in Brussels and in Turkey often involve army representatives.

"The Turkish military has been a good supporter of Turkey's EU accession process ... although it is not a black and white thing," he said.

"It is a transition progress which we are trying to steer in a successful way."

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hZQcHirc_EGKOWnuk7mlSLaTrpuA

Apart from the usual hooplay as to how much "turkey's" desperation in joining the EU, a couple of comments stick out...

"Babacan regretted that the issue of religion had apparently become a factor in the debate on Turkey's accession.

Religious lines should never be presented as a border," he said, adding that the current 27-nation composition of the European bloc already contained "huge differences" in terms of culture, religion and language.

No so long ago, and even now the turks policy is to sell a Cyprus settlement mentioning 2 religions on the island...but here when it comes to the EU they say that shouldn't be the case with their aspirations...
This is a clear policy of what is mine is mine and what is yours is mine policy at work?

The EU froze negotiations on eight chapters in 2006 in response to Turkey's refusal to grant trade privileges to Cyprus, which Ankara does not recognise, under a customs union pact with the bloc.

Recognition of the RoC for a yes vote is no problem for "tukey" though...if you do not recognize the RoC, why are you begging for her yes vote...laughable...the yes vote from the RoC is direct recognition and someone should remind them of this

"The Turkish military has been a good supporter of Turkey's EU accession process ... although it is not a black and white thing,"

This is laughable...a clear case of they haven't got a clue about democracy...the military still rules the roost...this in fact is black and white...

I tend to agree with kikapu..."turkey" will one day sell out the tcs...

[Nikitas]

"Religious lines should never be presented as a border," said Babacan, but THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT PRESIDENT GUL SAID ABOUT CYPRUS!

Gul said that in Cyprus there are two religions hence that justifies separation of the two communities.

Typical cynical use of ideology, typical Turkey! Use anything that will suit the situation and its interests.

Regardless of accession or not, the EU will always be a Christian majority not by design but by historic accident.

[miltiades]

Like it or not , Turkey will have to dance to the European tune , she has no other option and needs Europe far more than Europe needs Turkey. A nation of 70 plus million people with one of the lowest GDP in the region and one of the highest public sector borrowing. (Check out Google ) An army that is constantly interfering in the every day political events will not remain inactive for ever if Turkey continues her journey towards a non secular state.

[Nikitas]

Getting to a state of affairs in Turkey where the army is excluded from politics is a loooooong way off.

It is unimaginable that some day a Turkish prime minister would be able to pick up the phone and dismiss the Chief of Staff.

And that is the whole problem about Turkey's accession, all the other things are secondary. Turks do not perceive the European objection to the institutional role of the army in Turkey, and how it reminds Europeans of the Third Reich and dictatorships like Franco's and Salazar's and the Greek Junta. Until they get it they will be self excluding themselves from the EU.

[Viewpoint]

Like it or not , Turkey will have to dance to the European tune , she has no other option and needs Europe far more than Europe needs Turkey. A nation of 70 plus million people with one of the lowest GDP in the region and one of the highest public sector borrowing. (Check out Google ) An army that is constantly interfering in the every day political events will not remain inactive for ever if Turkey continues her journey towards a non secular state.

Why not tell her where to go? be honest for a change.

[Kikapu]

The road to Turkey's EU aspirations runs right through Cyprus, and I don't mean just the RoC, No sir, I mean whole of Cyprus, "TRNC" and RoC put together as one island, one country and one Cyprus.

With the newly added 50,000 new settlers votes ( sold to Turkey by the "TRNC" for a lausy few hundred dollars per person) to take control away from the True TC's in the "TRNC", Turkey will remove her main "bump-in-the-road" to the EU Gate. Worse comes to worse, Turkey will even accept "privileged partnership" from the EU if she does not make it all the way to full membership.

The equation is very simple. Even VP should be able to work this one out.

Which one is more important to Turkey.??

70+ million Turks or 150,000 TC's = ?

Come on VP, take a wild guess man.!!

[Viewpoint]

The road to Turkey's EU aspirations runs right through Cyprus, and I don't mean just the RoC, No sir, I mean whole of Cyprus, "TRNC" and RoC put together as one island, one country and one Cyprus.

With the newly added 50,000 new settlers votes ( sold to Turkey by the "TRNC" for a lausy few hundred dollars per person) to take control away from the True TC's in the "TRNC", Turkey will remove her main "bump-in-the-road" to the EU Gate. Worse comes to worse, Turkey will even accept "privileged partnership" from the EU if she does not make it all the way to full membership.

The equation is very simple. Even VP should be able to work this one out.

Which one is more important to Turkey.??

70+ million Turks or 150,000 TC's = ?

Come on VP, take a wild guess man.!!

Pigs have invented a gas that helps them fly, Kikapu you are clutching at straws by writing your own scenarios. Turkey has said she wants a solution to the Cyprus issue but bot any old solution that gives GCs the right to brush aside TC community rights. She was applauded by the EU and UN for taking a positive stance on the AP a solution supported by 90 of the international community.

Again you under estimate Turkey, at your own peril, the choice will be between a 70 million market and that of a divided and problematic island filled with spoilt and arrogant GCs like your self.

[zan]

Getting to a state of affairs in Turkey where the army is excluded from politics is a loooooong way off.

It is unimaginable that some day a Turkish prime minister would be able to pick up the phone and dismiss the Chief of Staff.

And that is the whole problem about Turkey's accession, all the other things are secondary. Turks do not perceive the European objection to the institutional role of the army in Turkey, and how it reminds Europeans of the Third Reich and dictatorships like Franco's and Salazar's and the Greek Junta. Until they get it they will be self excluding themselves from the EU.

Still playing the "We were perfect for the EU when we joined " card I see

If it wasn't for the USA having urgent meetings with Greece at the time and forcing them to change and the EU to give them a chance, they would not have got in. You guys forget so quickly it makes me laugh.....One rack minds....Brain washed minds at hat...We KNOW that Turkey has it's problems but it WILL change....Any idea what Greece was complaining about when it was told to clean up it's act

[zan]

The road to Turkey's EU aspirations runs right through Cyprus, and I don't mean just the RoC, No sir, I mean whole of Cyprus, "TRNC" and RoC put together as one island, one country and one Cyprus.

With the newly added 50,000 new settlers votes ( sold to Turkey by the "TRNC" for a lausy few hundred dollars per person) to take control away from the True TC's in the "TRNC", Turkey will remove her main "bump-in-the-road" to the EU Gate. Worse comes to worse, Turkey will even accept "privileged partnership" from the EU if she does not make it all the way to full membership.

The equation is very simple. Even VP should be able to work this one out.

Which one is more important to Turkey.??

70+ million Turks or 150,000 TC's = ?

Come on VP, take a wild guess man.!!

Try using a bit of window cleaner on your crystal ball......... Why not predict..sorry hope...that a massive earthquake wipes theTurks off the face of the earth.......Still praying......Good boy

[Nikitas]

Zan said:

"If it wasn't for the USA having urgent meetings with Greece at the time and forcing them to change and the EU to give them a chance, they would not have got in."

You kept up with Greek politics way back in 1981? Then you must recall the intense diplomatic work by Karamanlis and his aides that won over the French and the Germans, the two key players in the EU then as now.

Where did you get the Americans coming in to this? Giscar D'Estaing, the French president took on the job of convincing the rest to grant Greece full membership and by that time Greece had been a full democracy with the army firmly under civilian control. It was 6 years after the fall of the dictators.

You need to brush up on your history.