EU to expand to the Middle East

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | Oct 7, 2:46 AM EDT | ROBERT WIELAARD

[OldGuardChampion]

Turkey Gets Nod From European Union

By ROBERT WIELAARD Associated Press Writer

STRASBOURG, France (AP) -- The European Union has recommend Turkey be put on the path to full membership, a historic move that could push Europe's borders to the Middle East and stoked fears among Europeans wary of bringing a poor Muslim country into the prosperous bloc.

Reflecting widespread misgivings, the 30-member EU executive commission on Wednesday set tough conditions to prevent Turkey from backtracking on sweeping democratic and human rights reforms, prompting a sharp response from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

...

Erdogan bristled at any suggestion that Turkey was not a shoo-in to join the EU, and chided Chirac for seeking a referendum on Turkish EU membership, saying none of the 10 EU members that joined the bloc in May had to first win voter approval.

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Turkish membership would bring Europe's borders to Syria and Iraq - a fact that opponents say moves Europe too close to the unstable Middle East.

"The unthinkable is becoming reality. The largest member state of the EU will not even be a European country," said EU lawmaker Philip Claeys, a member from Belgium's far-right Flemish Bloc party.

Mainstream leaders have also expressed skepticism about allowing in a secular Muslim nation with a weak economy and a questionable human rights record, whose projected population would be the largest in the EU by 2025.

The opening of membership talks would be warmly welcomed in Washington, where successive presidents including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush publicly called on the EU to absorb Turkey, a loyal NATO ally.

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[Grzegorz 246]

"...women don't have the same rights than in the others european countries. "

Abortion ? Men there also don't have the same rights as in some other European countries. I think that they don't have guy marriages.
Turkey has 65-70 million people, they have been a NATO member since 1952 and this is much better developed country than Morocco or Algeria, so I don't see any problem here.

[Grzegorz 246]

It's not nice.

[Marie007]

Why are you so interesting by Turkey enter in Europe, you are american, it is not your problem. Most of people in Europe are against the enter of this country, ask to European what do they think about. Chirac will promise us a referendum for that, because he is afraid that french people say "no" to the Constitution European's referendum next year on account of Turkey, he wants to separate the two events.

[Grzegorz 246]

I'm not an American. Here is many people from various foreign countries. By the way I think that so called European Constitution will die anyway.

[MadIvan]

I am nervous about this - I have a bad feeling that most of the Turks would head off to Britain. I would rather we took a look eastward (e.g., Ukraine), before even thinking about this.

Regards, Ivan

[Lukasz]

Why are you so interesting by Turkey enter in Europe, you are american, it is not your problem. Most of people in Europe are against the enter of this country, ask to European what do they think about.

I think that most of Europeans never been in Turkey, then they cannot be objective and they don’t know what they talking about. As well they had poor knowledge about Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and now Romania and Bulgaria. Main problem for European society is that Turkey is an Islamic country. IMO Europeans should try to civilize the Islam, anyway we will have in EU Bosnia and Albania (maybe Azerbaijan), this is impossible to avoid. We should note that although these countries are Islamic but not like Iran or Algeria, it is not any reason for panic. IMO if these countries fulfill ALL necessary conditions then EU GOVERMENTS (not any referendum) should take them. It is long and not easy process and another challenge for EU.

btw I’m from Poland.

Chirac will promise us a referendum for that, because he is afraid that french people say "no" to the Constitution European's referendum next year on account of Turkey, he wants to separate the two events.

We will see, but I think that EU decision about Turkey accession is already done and is positive for Turks.

[Lukasz]

I am nervous about this - I have a bad feeling that most of the Turks would head off to Britain. I would rather we took a look eastward (e.g., Ukraine), before even thinking about this.

Don’t be so nervous Britain don’t have any chance with Germany. :-) Before last enlargement, I read that British tabloids scared their society that Eastern Europeans workers will flood British job market. As I know nothing similar happened. We in Poland also would see Ukraine before Turkey but they had some serious problems now, we will see who will won the elections, if Yuschenko would lose then automatically Ukraine should forget about EU for long time.

[MadIvan]

I wasn't worried about Poland, Hungary, et al, joining the EU. Please, bring your commitment to liberty and capitalism - we could always use more right wing voters here.

I live not far from Finsbury Park, andd the mosque where Abu Hamza preached terrorism and hatred. I want no more of that in my country. I am concerned Turkey might export more of that to us.

Regards, Ivan

[Marie007]

It will be positive for Turks and negative for us and what about the armenians, a friend of mine is armenian, I know the story. What do you think about this : Turkey doesn't want to recognize the Armenians'genocide.

[Serb5150]

Off topic, but I lived in Finsbury Park for a little while. I thought it was a lovely area - not sure where the mosque is, but then again I didn't exactly go looking for it.

[Lukasz]

I live not far from Finsbury Park, andd the mosque where Abu Hamza preached terrorism and hatred. I want no more of that in my country.

and where is this Abu Hamza now? He should be actually in prison, if not it is British mistake. For dangerous people we should have zero tolerance.

[Lukasz]

It will be positive for Turks and negative for us and what about the armenians, a friend of mine is armenian, I know the story. What do you think about this : Turkey doesn't want to recognize the Armenians'genocide.

Armenian genocide it is delicate case and because of that EU should make a pressure for Turkey but NOT in mass media. They must solve this case cause in the future Armenia will be also in EU. Turkey should be the first country which officially recognize this on media. I think that it is pretty old story and for sure not the most important issue here. For Armenians entry of Turkey should be a good sign cause it would be only question of time when Armenia would do this. But if Turkey would be reject then accession of Armenia also wouldn’t be so sure, their geographical position is not easy one. I know that they have all hot heads there (TUR, ARM) but they must think what they really want.

[Grzegorz 246]

"I live not far from Finsbury Park, andd the mosque where Abu Hamza preached terrorism and hatred."

No offense Ivan, but It's also your fault. You should burn It long time ago If this is true about this mosque.

"I am concerned Turkey might export more of that to us."

I'm not. Turkey is not Saudi Arabia. There isn't many fanatics. Also no one said that Turkey will become immediately a full EU member. They will be in EU not sooner than in 10-12 years.

[MadIvan]

No offense Ivan, but It's also your fault. You should burn It long time ago If this is true about this mosque.

He's in the process of being deported. In any event, starting a riot wouldn't necessarily put me in good stead with the police.

I'm not. Turkey is not Saudi Arabia. There isn't many fanatics. Also no one said that Turkey will become immediately a full EU member. They will be in EU not sooner than in 10-12 years.

I realise that the Turkish tradition is for secular government - I am still sceptical, however, as an Islamist party is in power at the moment.

Regards, Ivan

[Grzegorz 246]

"In any event, starting a riot wouldn't necessarily put me in good stead with the police."

I meant - you Brits. You should just react stronger and then
probably morons would understand that they aren't welcome there.

"I am still sceptical, however, as an Islamist party is in power at the moment."

And for me this is a good sign. It seems that these Turkish Islamists aren't so bad - they don't run around shouting "Allah Akbar", they don't wear sheet - they are quite modern and they want to be EU member. It also mean that there are probably some even more pro-western parties.
I'm not the biggest fan of Turkey in EU, I think that Ukraine and some Balkan countries are more important, however It is a little funny for me when I hear that people in European countries say: "No! Islamic Turkey will destroy our culture and Christian roots !"
Most people in Europe don't care about their Christian roots and I prefer reasonable Muslims than some "progressive Christians", who support abortion, guy marriages, euthanasia etc.

[Lukasz]

Good post I have similar feelings towards Turkey.

[hinckley buzzard]

"One by one the "Revived Roman Empire" is being accomplished"

One by one, the Holy Roman Empire is being demolished.