Posted on 09/29/2005 6:17:44 PM PDT by longtermmemmory
By Sibel Utku Bila - Agence France-Presse
ANKARA - Turkey hinted yesterday that it may shun the start of EU membership talks next week as political tensions rose over the country's place in Europe, leading Britain to warn of a «huge betrayal» if the door was slammed shut on Ankara.
Raising the risk of a political showdown, the European Parliament issued a stern warning to Ankara to recognize Cyprus and acknowledge that the Ottomans committed «genocide» against Armenians during World War I, two highly sensitive issues that have already strained ties.
The Parliament did, however, endorse the start of talks set for Monday.
The EU's British presidency, meanwhile, battled to resolve a deadlock over the negotiating framework - the guiding procedures and principles of the talks - with Austria insisting on a reference to an eventual «partnership» instead of full membership for Turkey.
«It is natural that we shall make the necessary evaluations following the clarification of the negotiating framework and take our final step accordingly,» Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan told reporters.
«It is out of the question that we accept any formula or suggestion other than full membership,» he said.
EU ambassadors were scheduled to meet later yesterday and throughout today to try to end the dispute before the talks, which were given a green light by the EU at a December 17 summit, get under way in Luxembourg.
Noting the atmosphere of uncertainty and possible last-minute wrangling, a senior Turkish diplomat said that it was not even clear when Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul would fly to Luxembourg.
«The airplane will be waiting at the airport and when everything is resolved, we will go,» he told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Other than the Austrian obstacle, he explained, some EU countries are pushing for tougher terms that go beyond the principles outlined in the EU's December 17 decisions concerning Turkey, but declined to elaborate.
Turkish newspapers reported that one draft provision that particularly irked Ankara was a demand that Turkey abstain from obstructing the membership of EU countries in other international organizations. The provision is widely interpreted as an attempt to block a Turkish veto to an eventual bid by Cyprus to join NATO.
Throwing Britain's weight behind Turkey, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw warned that «it would now be a huge betrayal of the hopes and expectations of the Turkish people and of Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's program of reform if, at this crucial time, we turned our back on Turkey.» «Anchor Turkey in the West and we gain a beacon of democracy and modernity, a country with a Muslim majority, which will be a shining example across the whole of its neighboring region,» he told the Labour Party's annual conference in Brighton.
Underscoring increasingly hostile public opinion in parts of Europe, the heated debate yesterday at the European Parliament also saw deputies harshly criticize Turkey's record on human rights and religious freedoms.
Ankara urged EU countries to reflect on a «strategic vision.» «Our membership carries great importance with respect to the contribution (it would make) to the future of Europe as well as the Middle East and the Caucasus and particularly to the building of an alliance between civilizations,» Tan said. ++++ ++++++++++++++ ++++++++ ++++++++ ++++++
US public relations chief vows better cooperation with Turkey __ __ __ ___
ANKARA (AP) - The United States’ new public relations chief, Karen Hughes, yesterday promised better cooperation with Turkey, on the final stop of a Mideast mission aimed at improving America’s image in the Muslim world.
Turks have been increasingly critical of US policy, with a majority of them saying the Iraq war has made the world a more dangerous place. In a June poll by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, only 17 percent of Turks said they supported the US war on terror.
Many Turks fear that the war in Iraq will lead to the division of the country along ethnic lines, which could encourage Kurds in Turkey. Rebels of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, have been fighting the Turkish army since 1984, a conflict that has left 37,000 dead.
“Obviously we have a public diplomacy challenge,” Hughes said after meeting with Turkish officials at the Foreign Ministry. “The way to overcome that is for America to work in partnership with the leadership here in Turkey on policy that improves the lives of the people... by doing more to confront the terror threat by the PKK.”
The US government recognizes the PKK as a terrorist organization. Turkey is pressing the United States to take action against the rebels, who have bases in northern Iraq.
Hughes met yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and his undersecretary, Ali Tuygan. She was also scheduled to meet with civic and religious groups in Istanbul later in the day.
I also just saw a report on Greek TV about the collapse of Turkey membership. It was described as a diplomatic "thriller". Jack Straw was very animated in his statement. The proponents of EU membership were wearing their disapointment and ANGER on the outside.
from international herald tribune excerpt:" of accepting a poor, agrarian country into the bloc has been met with deep resistance across the EU. Recent polls show a majority of French, German and Austrian voters oppose admitting Turkey, and a majority of Danes would rather see non-EU candidate, Ukraine, in the EU than an "Islamic country" like Turkey.
That skepticism is likely to intensify in coming years, because leaders viscerally opposed to Turkey's entry are on the rise in two of the EU's most important countries, Germany and France. The Christian Democrat leader, Angela Merkel, who may lead a German coalition government after finishing ahead of the party in power in this month's elections, favors a "privileged partnership" for Turkey. In France, a likely presidential candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy, also opposes Turkish membership."
also from internationa herald tribune:
The European Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, also postponed a vote that was to have taken place Wednesday, to approve Turkey's extended customs union with the EU. Ankara has agreed to extend its free trade agreement with the EU to all 25 member states, including Cyprus. But it refuses to recognize Cyprus formally and denies Cyprus access to its airfields and ports. In a heated debate, members of Parliament said this was unacceptable.
"Turkey has to recognize members of a club if it wants to join it," said Jan Marinus Wiersma, vice president of the Parliament's influential Socialist group.
The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, warned Wednesday that forcing Turkey to recognize Cyprus before the island's division was
The European Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, also postponed a vote that was to have taken place Wednesday, to approve Turkey's extended customs union with the EU. Ankara has agreed to extend its free trade agreement with the EU to all 25 member states, including Cyprus. But it refuses to recognize Cyprus formally and denies Cyprus access to its airfields and ports. In a heated debate, members of Parliament said this was unacceptable.
"Turkey has to recognize members of a club if it wants to join it," said Jan Marinus Wiersma, vice president of the Parliament's influential Socialist group.
I have never understood why they want to become members of the EU. I know there are subsidies, but the EU is not going to be able to afford them much longer and they will soon cease.
Thought you might find this interesting ping.
Why the heck is Hughes out there cultivating Muslims in any case? They have nothing to offer economically, their countries are dysfunctional, and they want to swarm up and take over Europe and reduce it to the same lousy state they have been "enjoying" for 8 centuries.
That is why the powerful french farmer lobby do not want them.
Much of Turkey is poor farmers. Farmers who will IMMEDIATLY tap into the subsidy system.
Personally I don't think they have demanded enough from turkey.
Not just end the occupation of norther cyprus or deal with the kurds.
I think the turkish government should return Agia Sophia to the Christian Church. (at present it is just a decrepid museaum)
I think GWBush sent Hughes because he CAN'T TRUST the lower level flunkies at the state department. If Condie Rice goes then she attracts too much attention. Hughes has more freedom of movement.
Either way, I think it is a waste of time. There is NOTHING the USA can do to gain respect from the moslem world. They only respect firepower.
HARRIS? Whodat?
my typo should have said HUGES
I have always suspected that there is a motivation behind this policy of support that is not obvious to the public eye. That, I suppose, is unavoidable in matters of state but it is extremely irritating in a free society and I don't think it's too much to ask the Bush administration for an explanation. That had better not be that the State Department is creating an independent foreign policy...again.
I think it was a backhanded support. Something along the lines of forcing the countries that REALLY do not want Turkey in the EU to step up and speak for themselves and not hide behind true Greek wishes.
IOW they did not want to be used as an excuse so the other countries can feign being innocent.
I think the state department explanation is exactly that.
The anti-american state department is trying to create a counter power to the USA.
Certainly makes more sense than what I was told! Also very Greek.
It was the Germans who were Turkey's biggest ally in their bid for EU membership. Largely borne out of a "drug deal" for Turkish withdrawal of support for the Iraq campaign. Unfortunately for Turkey, the "want to be" big boy Schroeder is on his way out, as a consequence the Turks can see their hopes of this EU membership fade away with his loss of power.
The French will say nothing to make their new buddy Schroeder look bad (In diplomatic circles). The huge gap between French and German positions on Turkey were conveniently downplayed in France and Germany. While Turkish EU membership was and remains a big issue, the name Schroeder rarely got used in a negative context in conjunction to this issue. But what can one expect from a largely state run media in both respective countries?
The idiots in this deal will be the Turks! Gambling on EU membership they declined several BILLION in US grants and loans. Now the Turks with little to say in Iraq (Where they want influence), with no aid from the US will also end up getting some crumbs thrown at them from the EU. For the Turks it has become a loose-loose situation!
This of course is not what we want. If the Germans want to make promises to Turkey to screw us over, they should pay the price. From a US perspective, we need to push for Turkish EU membership. They deserve it! But there is another perspective here at work. Most of the EU is playing the denial game that there is an Islamic threat. It’s a game where they in reality don’t want to pay the price, yet benefit from our actions in (Iraq, Iran, Sinai, Niger, Sudan, Republic of Georgia, Thailand, Indonesia etc). Let the Americans deplete their resources fighting the battles all over the planet while we build our Pan-European dream with a Franco-German alliance in its heart. This ties into the larger picture in that having Turkey join the EU will be a blow to the Islamic threat. It will undermine them (The Islamist) in the long run. Turkey will end up more aligned with the West and a large Muslim nation is now within the system which AQ and others oppose. Getting Turkey into the EU is to our benefit in this global war against terror.
The US needs to take all diplomatic efforts possible to have Turkey join the EU. For us this is a win-win situation and since the Schroeder-Chirac team decided to make Iraq and the larger global war on terror a zero-sum game, it is only fitting that we now push the Turkish position.
Red6
Austria delays Turkey's EU bid
PM - Monday, 3 October , 2005 18:51:49
Reporter: Jennifer Macey
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1473721.htm
Turkey is a pretty decent-sized trading partner of Greece, and that has probably been working its way upward since the disintegration of Yugoslavia during the 1990s. Turkey's population is large, and its financial infrastructure is pretty impressive now. Not sure what Greece has to sell, but Turkey is a logical customer for it.
Also, as the old saying goes, one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar*, and Greece wants Turkey to acquiesce regarding Cyprus. That isn't likely to happen. Greece doesn't have the firepower to force Turkey to do anything (the only European army bigger than Turkey's is Russia's), and the all or nothing approach has forced Greek politics regarding Cyprus into a box.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/cy.html#Intro
"Although only the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004, every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of a European citizen. EU laws, however, will not apply to north Cyprus. Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish Cypriot community to continue to support reunification."
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gr.html#Econ
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tu.html#Econ
some related topics illustrating the recent history of the question:
Why Turkish business needs the EU
Daily Star (Lebanon) | Saturday, September 25, 2004 | Michael Glackin
Posted on 10/01/2004 10:41:52 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1232764/posts
Iranian president postpones Turkey visit
The Daily Star (Lebanon) | Monday, September 27, 2004 | Agence France Presse
Posted on 10/01/2004 10:48:07 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1232769/posts
Austria says it will have referendum on Turkey
EU Observer | Dec 17 2004 | Honor Mahony
Posted on 12/18/2004 1:29:51 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1304238/posts
Turkish FM stands firm over EU bid
Turkish Press website | Dec 10 2004 | Agence France Presse
Posted on 12/12/2004 9:17:51 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1300118/posts
Turkey warns of terror wave if EU membership is rejected
EU Observer | Dec 13 2004 | Lisbeth Kirk
Posted on 12/14/2004 10:10:42 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1301677/posts
Turkey lashes out at France and the Netherlands
Financial Times | September 16, 2005 | By Lionel Barber, US Managing Editor, in New York
Posted on 09/17/2005 10:02:35 AM PDT by joan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1486418/posts
EU irked by Turkish adultery law
BBC News | Thursday, 9 September, 2004 | correspondent
Posted on 09/09/2004 10:34:26 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1211132/posts
France cools towards EU project
BBC Paris | Thursday, 28 October, 2004 | Caroline Wyatt
Posted on 11/03/2004 11:43:48 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1269998/posts
Germany and France to take common position on Turkey
EU Observer | Dec 3 2004 | Richard Carter
Posted on 12/06/2004 10:29:46 AM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1295533/posts
France calls on Turkey to recognise Armenia killings
EU Observer | Dec 14 2004 | Honor Mahony
Posted on 12/14/2004 10:06:36 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1301675/posts
Chirac to make Turkey's case on French TV
EU Observer | Dec 15 2004 | Honor Mahony
Posted on 12/19/2004 7:26:51 AM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1304530/posts
Draft In Which T.R.N.C. Was Called As Turkish Cypriot State Passed From Political Committee
Anadolu Agency | 6/14/2004 | correspondent
Posted on 09/12/2004 7:18:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1214248/posts
EU Rebuff Would Affect Ties With Turkey: Turkish PM
Agence France Presse | Sunday, September 12, 2004 | correspondent
Posted on 09/12/2004 7:13:34 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1214238/posts
Parliament president to deliver verdict on Turkey
EU Observer | Nov 4 2004 | Andrew Beatty
Posted on 11/07/2004 8:03:03 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1274000/posts
MEPs give thumbs-up to Turkey
EU Observer | Dec 15 2004 | Richard Carter
Posted on 12/18/2004 2:01:37 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1304256/posts
Mixed reaction to Turkey decision (Turkey into the EU in 2005/2006?)
EU Observer | Dec 21 2004 | Richard Carter
Posted on 12/20/2004 11:56:40 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1305654/posts
EU/Turkey politics: Turkey talks
The Economist Intelligence Unit
Posted on 09/27/2005 2:20:12 PM PDT by Alex Marko
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1492360/posts
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