Cyprus-Forum.com

[CopperLine]

It is a well known historical fact that no armed insurrection against a greater power has ever failed in reaching its objectives, no matter if its 1 day or 600 years guerilla warfare always wins

Hmmm ... I guess you had the conquest of the Americas in mind... which guerilla army has been succesful against the creation of the USA in north America, or of Canada, or of Mexico ... ? Oh I see it was those ultimately victorious Caribs and Arawaks and Mayans and Aztecs who defeated the Spanish, French and British you must have been thinking about .... No ? The south American tribes and their guerilla tactics against Spain and Portugal and ... "it is a well known fact" indeed !!!

[Tim Drayton]

Turkey by virtue of being a member of the World Trade Organisation already has MFN status in world trade. (To be honest the meaning of 'most favoured nation' in international trade refers less to a status than a policy of reciprocity).

With regards the EU, Turkey has been part of the EU Customs Union (see http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilate ... dex_en.htm ) since 1996. In many matters there's not a great deal of difference when it comes to trade between customs union status and full EU membership.

In certain respects, arguably, being in a customs union without having full membership is an advantage. It is no secret I think that Turkey's environmental or labour protection legislation is a lot less stringent than the EU's. This means that a multinational can open a factory in Turkey, create more pollution and employ staff on poorer terms than it could in Europe, yet have full access to the EU market for the goods it produces there.

[YFred]

Turkey by virtue of being a member of the World Trade Organisation already has MFN status in world trade. (To be honest the meaning of 'most favoured nation' in international trade refers less to a status than a policy of reciprocity).

With regards the EU, Turkey has been part of the EU Customs Union (see http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilate ... dex_en.htm ) since 1996. In many matters there's not a great deal of difference when it comes to trade between customs union status and full EU membership.

In certain respects, arguably, being in a customs union without having full membership is an advantage. It is no secret I think that Turkey's environmental or labour protection legislation is a lot less stringent than the EU's. This means that a multinational can open a factory in Turkey, create more pollution and employ staff on poorer terms than it could in Europe, yet have full access to the EU market for the goods it produces there.

Unfortunately that is true, but unless they change all that, they will not join so the incentives are good to improve millions of peoples lives in Turkey.

[YFred]

Turkey by virtue of being a member of the World Trade Organisation already has MFN status in world trade. (To be honest the meaning of 'most favoured nation' in international trade refers less to a status than a policy of reciprocity).

With regards the EU, Turkey has been part of the EU Customs Union (see http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilate ... dex_en.htm ) since 1996. In many matters there's not a great deal of difference when it comes to trade between customs union status and full EU membership.

There is only one difference and that is the joing in payment of a few billion euros to Turkey, as far as I am aware.

[bill cobbett]

Turkey by virtue of being a member of the World Trade Organisation already has MFN status in world trade. (To be honest the meaning of 'most favoured nation' in international trade refers less to a status than a policy of reciprocity).

With regards the EU, Turkey has been part of the EU Customs Union (see http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilate ... dex_en.htm ) since 1996. In many matters there's not a great deal of difference when it comes to trade between customs union status and full EU membership.

In certain respects, arguably, being in a customs union without having full membership is an advantage. It is no secret I think that Turkey's environmental or labour protection legislation is a lot less stringent than the EU's. This means that a multinational can open a factory in Turkey, create more pollution and employ staff on poorer terms than it could in Europe, yet have full access to the EU market for the goods it produces there.

Unfortunately that is true, but unless they change all that, they will not join so the incentives are good to improve millions of peoples lives in Turkey.

Boys, I hear what you're saying but I can find loads of refs to this MFN status as opposed to free trade, custom union affair.

It seems to stem from a proposal back in 2005 from Austria as a half-way house or as an alternative to full membership. Need to do more research.

[CopperLine]

Turkey by virtue of being a member of the World Trade Organisation already has MFN status in world trade. (To be honest the meaning of 'most favoured nation' in international trade refers less to a status than a policy of reciprocity).

With regards the EU, Turkey has been part of the EU Customs Union (see http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilate ... dex_en.htm ) since 1996. In many matters there's not a great deal of difference when it comes to trade between customs union status and full EU membership.

In certain respects, arguably, being in a customs union without having full membership is an advantage. It is no secret I think that Turkey's environmental or labour protection legislation is a lot less stringent than the EU's. This means that a multinational can open a factory in Turkey, create more pollution and employ staff on poorer terms than it could in Europe, yet have full access to the EU market for the goods it produces there.

Agreed Tim Drayton. It is also another reason why Erdogan/AKP is doesn't want EU membership at any price - if Cyprus is an EU deal-breaker then AKP will walk away from EU, if real enforcement of Copenhagn criteria is a deal-breaker then AKP will walk away from EU - remember there's no one more business canny and petit-bourgeois capitalist than the AKP.

[kurupetos]

You are not that lucky YFred. The moron meant just me. I feel like dead meat already but i cannot prosecute him because he directed his comments at "all those concerned". May be he will get braver later on and perhaps post a photo of him in his next post. After all he is a brave man.

For u Bananiot!

[YFred]

You are not that lucky YFred. The moron meant just me. I feel like dead meat already but i cannot prosecute him because he directed his comments at "all those concerned". May be he will get braver later on and perhaps post a photo of him in his next post. After all he is a brave man.

For u Bananiot!

Bedrakimu, I've seen you somewhere before, just can't remeber it for a moment, but I am sure it'll come to me sooner or later.

[YFred]

Turkey by virtue of being a member of the World Trade Organisation already has MFN status in world trade. (To be honest the meaning of 'most favoured nation' in international trade refers less to a status than a policy of reciprocity).

With regards the EU, Turkey has been part of the EU Customs Union (see http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilate ... dex_en.htm ) since 1996. In many matters there's not a great deal of difference when it comes to trade between customs union status and full EU membership.

In certain respects, arguably, being in a customs union without having full membership is an advantage. It is no secret I think that Turkey's environmental or labour protection legislation is a lot less stringent than the EU's. This means that a multinational can open a factory in Turkey, create more pollution and employ staff on poorer terms than it could in Europe, yet have full access to the EU market for the goods it produces there.

Agreed Tim Drayton. It is also another reason why Erdogan/AKP is doesn't want EU membership at any price - if Cyprus is an EU deal-breaker then AKP will walk away from EU, if real enforcement of Copenhagn criteria is a deal-breaker then AKP will walk away from EU - remember there's no one more business canny and petit-bourgeois capitalist than the AKP.

Isn't there a figure of a few billion to be paid to Turkey for joing involved as an advantage to join fully and contribute as opposed to stand on one side and milk it for all you can.

[kurupetos]

You are not that lucky YFred. The moron meant just me. I feel like dead meat already but i cannot prosecute him because he directed his comments at "all those concerned". May be he will get braver later on and perhaps post a photo of him in his next post. After all he is a brave man.

For u Bananiot!

Bedrakimu, I've seen you somewhere before, just can't remeber it for a moment, but I am sure it'll come to me sooner or later.

Hint: Disneyland!