But there is resistance among EU states such as Germany and France to its membership, including among ruling conservatives.
Sarkozy said it was up to the EU member states to decide on Turkish entry and reiterated his opposition. "I have always been opposed to this entry," he told France's TF1 television.
"I still am and I think I can say that the immense majority of member states shares the position of France," he said.
"Turkey is a very great country, an ally of Europe, an ally of the United States. It will stay a privileged partner. My position hasn't changed and it won't change," he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was clearly in the interest of all to forge ties between the EU and the Muslim world, but asked to comment directly on Obama's remarks, she noted only: "It's clear there are different opinions."
Merkel said the form of any future connection between the EU and Turkey was still not clear, a reference to the possibility of a privileged partnership stopping short of actual membership -- a formula favoured by French and German conservatives.
Turkey isn’t a free country. You can be put into prison for publicly endorsing Christianity. Why do we want them to be part of the EU?
But Eurabia loves Obama.
“The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence”
Because we all know how tolerant Turkey would be of us if we went there and openly practiced our Christianity. I am resigned to 8 years of this A-H*LE pardon my language. My biggest fears are 1. Michelle runs in 2016 2. The One finds a way to run in 2016 for a 3rd term.
0gabe is a Muslim stooge and kiss a$$, what do you expect. 0gabe’s priorities are the third world. Not Europe, Japan or any of our traditional allies
Hey Zero, it’s up to the EU. Nation building Obama does not like, but global alliance building? I’m leaning toward the Antichrist explanation again.
0Bama doesn’t have enough on his plate, that he feel the need to get involved with EU politics. I doubt that Turkey will ever get in there are too many problems with EU Muslims now.
Oh, rich! I’d forgotten about Turkey. Naturally, Obama would stand by his Muslim friends.
...on bended knee and with a servile bow.
Hmmm...I seem to remember that in March 2003, the Turks refused to allow the U.S. Army's 4th infantry Division to disembark there and attack into Iraq from the north. That decision left Saddam and his cronies an escape route once Baghdad fell, and ultimately cost (at least) hundreds of American lives in the insurgency that broke out later that year.
Some ally. So screw the Turks.
of course he’d back turkey. they are a muslim country. does this surprise anyone?
"Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected attempts to call Turkey the representative of moderate Islam. 'It is unacceptable for us to agree with such a definition. Turkey has never been a country to represent such a concept. Moreover, Islam cannot be classified as moderate or not,' Erdogan said, speaking at Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies late Thursday. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected attempts to call Turkey the representative of moderate Islam.
Obama is a boob, alienating friend and foe alike.
Let's fire the SOB.
Colin Powell lost Turkey for Bush just weeks from the start of the operation, forcing the United States to have to divert the troops south, and losing the pincer tactic of a two-front attack that would squeeze Iraqi forces into the middle.
Instead, Iraq's military were able to sneak north and out of the country.
And now Obama wants to reward the Turks.
-PJ
That arrogant America that lectures rather than listens seems to be back already!
everything Obama has done so far is destructive to the USA
wonder how all the armenian refugees feel about this one?
“...[Turkey,] an ally of the United States...”
Depends on what day of the week it is, if even true anymore.
I thought Obama was supposed to be smoothing over relations with everyone, and all of the world would be throwing roses at our feet.
Perhaps he’s finding out that neutrality isn’t always the best? Of course, I could just be giving him undue credit for having some kind of rationale for his choices where there may really be none, or any that make any sense at all.
“The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence, forging a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interests,” Obama told the summit.
Hopefully, this idiot’s support of the further overrunning of Europe with Muslims will incense enough Europeans to lead them to reject Turkey’s admission into the EU. If Turkey is admitted, it will accelerate the slow death of Europe.
Yes, let’s admit Turkey into the EU so all its radical muslims can go whizzing across the open borders to colonize the rest of the region. /s