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| Do you believe that Turkey will ever join the EU? |
| Definitely Yes |
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28% |
[ 4 ] |
| Definitely Not |
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14% |
[ 2 ] |
| Perhaps/ Uncertain |
|
57% |
[ 8 ] |
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| Total Votes : 14 |
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| Author |
Message |
gabs
Villager
Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Posts: 98
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moosey
it was on the bbc news -
they got it a video link to it on the bbc web site.
The link is:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/default.stm#
then click on the following:
BBC NEWS: VIDEO AND AUDIO Dirt poor: Former coal miners in Poland stealing to survive Europe Today |
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Constantinopolitis
Villager
Joined: 23 Aug 2005
Posts: 12
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http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&trh=20050828&hn=23398
INTERNATIONAL 08.28.2005 Sunday
Chirac Reacts to Turkey's Cyprus Declaration
By Ali Ihsan Aydin
Published: Saturday, August 27, 2005
zaman.com
Following French Premier Dominique De Villepin, President Jacques
Chirac also criticized Turkey's declaration that it will not recognize the
Greek Cypriot administration. Chirac, who held a meeting with the European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso at the Elysee Palace, said Turkey
failed to act "in the spirit" of a country hoping to join the EU. The
Spokesperson for the Elysee Palace made an announcement after the
Chirac-Barroso meeting and said Chirac had expressed his questions regarding
Turkey's declaration. He reported Chirac had warned, "this declaration poses
political and legal problems and that it is not in the spirit expected of a
candidate to the union". Angela Merkel, Germany's conservative leader, who
is expected to be elected as Germany's new Chancellor in the September 18
elections, sent a letter to a group of European Union (EU) leaders and asked
Turkey to be accepted as a "privileged partnership".
The announcement from the Elysee Palace notes France wants to discuss
the issue at an unofficial EU foreign ministers meeting on September 1 and 2. A French Foreign Ministry statement to Zaman pointed out that Turkey's declaration released with the supplementary protocol of the customs union agreement was a new situation for Paris and that France will determine its final stance after Brussels's examination of the declarations legal aspects. On the other side, it is reported that Chirac asked for guarantees and clarifications from Turkey to provide the customs union to be fully implemented, including the Greek Cypriot administration.
Turkey signed the supplementary protocol in July, expanding the scope
of the Customs Union Agreement to include the 10 new members of the European Union (EU), which was set as a condition for Turkey to start the EU membership negotiations. Turkey announced with a declaration that signing the supplementary protocol would not mean recognition of Greek Cyprus. Prime Minister Dominique De Villepin was the first who voiced his unease about the declaration. Known as Chirac's right hand man, De Villepin said it was "inconceivable" for Turkey to start membership negotiations without recognizing an EU member in a statement he made to a radio station in early August. Villepin demanded Turkey show determination to recognize Greek Cyprus.
Merkel starts a letter campaign in EU
German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Leader, Angela Merkel, who
severely opposes Turkey's EU membership, sent a letter to a group of EU
leaders, asking them to present Turkey the "privileged partnership"
alternative along with the full membership target. The letter, which was
sent to many EU leaders including French Prime Minister Dominique De
Villepin, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, British Prime
Minister Tony Blair, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Austrian
Prime Minister Wolfgang Schussel and the Dutch Prime Minister Peter
Balkanende, says that Turkey's EU membership will endanger EU's adaptation
process. Merkel, who claimed that the alternatives will be missing, when it
is understood that the EU cannot admit Turkey after the negotiations begin,
wanted the "privileged partnership" alternative to be presented to Turkey.
Paris |
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erolz
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 4195
Location: Kyrenia / Girne
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gabs
Villager
Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Posts: 98
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france = agriculture policy - "cyprus, please do our dirty work for us".
mercel = anti govt vote, 20% unemployed in east - no more guest workers thanx - mercel looks economically clueless, time will tell.
both nations' views understandably predictable.
village guest ? ee-oo ee-oo...... brrriiiiiooooooooo  |
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Donald Keogh
Villager
Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 73
Location: Ireland
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Constantinopolitics your letter to Mr Blair from the Greek Cypriot
viewpoint, totally ignores the concerns of Turkish Cypriots or other EU Nationals. Below find another ficticious letter to Mr Blair on the same issue.
The internationalization of the Cyprus problem in favor of the Greek Cypriots, gives rise to certain misconceptions of the islands history and invariably the administration in the north or the Turkish state bear the blame.
The Eu will hopefully now recognize that the present 'problem' did not start with the arrival of the Turkish army in 1974 - their action was partly the consequence of 10 years of systematic subjugation by the Greek Cypriots - but rather the destruction of the 1960 constitution that was designed to operate on a basis of partnership between the two communities.
The Annan Plan which would have reunified the island was overwhelmingly supported by the Turkish Cypriots and rejected by the Greek Cypriots, who used this opportunity to ensure North Cyprus was kept in isolation despite promises from the international community to the contrary.
Turkey's forthcoming accession talks are being widely linked to the Cyprus issue, whilst the Republic of Cyprus's entry to the EU were not.It seems incumbent on the Greek Cypriot administration to expect Turkey to deliver the goods whilst ensuring North Cyprus is kept in absolute isolation.
This hypocritical stance may well backfire on its advocates.
In its short 45 years of existence, Cyprus, one of the smallest countries within the Union, has overseen the destruction of the Republic, ethnic cleansing, the attempted annexation of the island to Greece and possible permanent division within the island.
Not an unenviable record, but one that will hopefully not jeopardize Turkey's accession talks.
| Constantinopolitis wrote: |
18th of August, 2005
Dear Mr Blair,
I am writing to share my concerns regarding Britain’s policy on Turkey’s EU integration.
Turkey’s EU accession process is moving along swiftly despite Turkey’s refusal to comply with a demand, set by the EU in 2004, which calls for the immediate and full recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, an existing member of the EU, before membership talks can begin. It would be absurd and incompatible with the unified ethos of the EU to have member states not recognise one another. The Erdogan claim that Turkey may recognise Cyprus only after a political settlement on the island has run its course. I would urge Britain to encourage Turkey to act immediately in accordance with this prerequisite.
Cyprus and its people have long remained divided due to the stationing of Turkish troops on the island, who continue to enforce an ethnic division within the Republic in utter violation of international law. It is most unfortunate that your government has conveniently forgotten the fact that it was the Turkish military that invaded Cyprus in 1974, systematically ethnically cleansed some 200 000 indigenous Cypriots, transplanted 120 000 Turkish colonists, brutally massacred 6000 and raped 1000 women aged between 12 and 78. Are more than 120 UN resolutions documenting and condemning the aggression, occupation, illegal colonisation and ethnic cleansing by Turkey insignificant? Respect for human rights, democracy and security is the minimum prerequisite for a solution to the Cyprus problem. It is not, as you seem to believe, a matter of reaching an accommodation with Turkey by making concessions in order to appease it. Turkey needs to comply with international law. Universal principles cannot be derogated to appease an aggressor. It would not only undermine the basis of western society and civilisation but it would also give the green light to every aggressor to act with impunity. Is your government so blinded by its desire to see Turkey become a member of the EU that they are prepared to brush aside fundamental principles? As the UK is now holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, I would encourage your government to bring your political stance on Cyprus inline with EU and International Law.
It has recently been reported that the UK has recommended Union member states open direct contact with the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”. Such a recommendation was said to have been made at the British Ambassador to Ankara, Peter Westmacott's meeting with EU ambassadors. Please recall that Britain does not recognise the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" and was instrumental in securing UN Security Council Resolution 541 which considered its purported declaration of independence to be “legally invalid”. If indeed you are proposing a policy that contradicts International Law you have shown yourself unworthy of the institution you currently represent and I would call on you, once again, to stop making immoral attempts to legitimise the occupation of Cyprus.
Turkey refuses to recognise the Genocide perpetrated between 1894 and 1955 against its indigenous Christian inhabitants. If nations are allowed to commit Genocide with impunity, to hide their guilt in a camouflage of lies and denials, there is a real danger that other brutal regimes will be encouraged to attempt Genocides. The British government has failed to officially recognise these crimes against humanity, perpetrated against several million Armenians, Assyrians and Hellenes who fell prey to the Turkish establishment, as Genocide, therefore sacrificing justice and moral principles rather than risk offending a supposedly indispensable ally. To deny, distort and falsify history for mere political and economic gains is an abomination.
According to a European Commission assessment study, Turkish EU membership would cost European taxpayers annually between 16.5 and 27.5 billion Euros. Turkey's membership would cost 11 billion Euros a year in agricultural subsidies alone. What benefits would European tax payers, such as myself, gain from accommodating a nation from a neighbouring continent?
Politicians motivated by the assumed benefits of further EU enlargement have often suggested that a partnership between a Muslim Turkey and a Christian Europe will be good for humanity in general, and will be a blow to terrorist fanatics who wish to destroy civilisation as we know it. Do you honestly believe that Turkey’s accession into the EU could prevent terrorists from perpetrating barbaric attacks against innocent civilians as on the 7th of July in London? Have we been bullied into believing this is the only means to safeguard “our way of life”? I do acknowledge that if Turkey does successfully annex itself to Europe, the EU's frontier would extend deep into the Middle East which will certainly be advantageous for numerous European governments, including Britain, by satisfying the geo-political need for a buffer to cushion the EU against Syria, Iran and Iraq, all of whom neighbour Turkey. However, it is my belief that a geographically overstretched Europe is likely to transform into little more than a glorified customs union whilst dissolving the European identity altogether.
We must convince present-day Turkish society to adjust their laws and behaviour toward democratic pluralism for the sake of humanity, and I am confident that with time Turkish society is capable of embracing such values. However, it’s incomprehensible to favour the accession of such a nation into a civilised and pluralistic Europe until Turkey begins to show respect for international law and the international community.
A publication by the EU's executive European Commission showed that only 35 percent of people in the 25 nation bloc were in favour of Turkish membership. Has the British government considered holding a referendum enabling its own citizens to democratically decide whether they believe the EU is capable of absorbing such a large and economically backward country or will our fundamental democratic rights be ignored and violated, once again, by a politically correct ‘elite’ who believe they know what’s best?
Yours sincerely, |
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