Comments on: Turkey’s EU bid fades with little drama

By: Ramzy

Ramzy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:34:15 +0000

Wake-up Turkey, 4get the EU. Sarkozy gave 2 reasons against Turkish EU membership, one was its ***moslem*** the second was that Turkey is ***non European*** Infact, to many in the Eu, Israel is more European than Turkey, Nowonder they masacare palestinian, occupy their land but still, Iran a country that has never attacked any neighbour posses more danger according to them.

By: Alberto

Alberto — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:06:23 +0000

Turkey does not want to change. If Turkey respected human rights in Cyprus and minorities like gays,christians and kurds it would no longer be Turkey. Turkey will change 12 times before it conforms to Europe. Turks complain about racial intolerance amongst European leaders. Has anyone seen what they have done to christian churches in Cyprus ancient christian churches and grave yards have been desecrated.My grandmothers tombstone was thrown 120 metres from where she was buired and the cross was smashed and graffitied. They have ethnically cleansed every last non-Turk including catholics,Greeks,Armenians and others from entire villages and towns at gun point and prevent them returning to their homes. Turkey is perhaps the most racist regime on earth. When South Africa had a policy of Aparthied they were the subject of embargoes as well. Turkey will be a multicultural, democratic and peaceful country before it is allowed into Europe. To expect a religiofascist regime like Turkey is now to join the EU is dreamland.

By: Cheema

Cheema — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:42:09 +0000

It was obvious from the first day that eruope will not accept a muslim country to their domain. It was foolish for Turks to think otherwise. However Turkey’s geo stretegic importance will increase in the future as europe becomes more dependent on natural gas imports.

By: Eiffel

Eiffel — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:20:34 +0000

Turkey keeps making the claim that Europe needs it more than Turkey needs Europe. One further amusing claim is that the Europeans need the Turkish army and the country’s population. They don’t realize that both point to Turkey’s vulnerabilities such as The Kurdish problem and the dangerous neighborhood that it inhabits. If Europe needs an army for protection, such army needs to be garrisoned in a central location and made up of German, French, Spanish and other soldiers, not an inaccessible corner of Europe and certainly not stationed in the middle east. And if Europe wishes a population increase what better candidate than Russia that is well educated and full of mineral and energy resources which Europe needs so much from an energy independence point of view. It a well known fact that Turkey’s foreign policy favors a Pan Turkic and Neo-Ottoman model where Turkey plays a central role. It frequently uses this model to tell the Europeans that it does not need them. Well then what’s the purpose of applying? The truth is Turkey has an economy which is 50% dependent on European trade and certainly it is Turkey that needs Europe and not the other way around. In the end there has to be a unanimous vote for Turkey’s acceptance into the EU. The problem is that instead of Turkey doing its homework, Turkey is more interested in semantics and manifestations of rank. Turkey pays more attention to its status that it occasionally forgets what an oppressive impression it makes to European states small and large alike.

By: Drama

Drama — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:30:15 +0000

I am a Turkish citizen living in the U.S. and I am really tired of racist and prejudicious European countries. Sarkozky himself is a descendant of an immigrant family. I say Europe needs Turkey more than Turkey needs Europe. Turkey is full of hard-working, young, dynamic and pro-market modern people. It will be among the top 10 economies of the world in the next couple of decades. Finally to all Greek, Cypriot and Armenians with turkophobia. EU accession is not a strong leverage to move Turkey from its already rightful position.

By: Ace

Ace — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:52:32 +0000

The rise of racism under the flag of the fear of “Islamic terrorism” triggered by the likes of Sarkozy and the far right in Europe use Turkey as their spacegoat to justify their bigotry. I wish the Government of Turkey would turn around and let the Europeans take their precious “EU” and put it where the sun does not shine……..The Emperial mentality of the Europeans lives on….dont forget what the French did to its colonies namely Algeria, or the Germans and the Dutch….unfortunately history is always seen by the eyes of the writers….that is why its important for countries like Turkey to own up and write their own history….

By: slavko

slavko — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:58:37 +0000

I don’t understand why Turkey would more suitable to become Eu member than Ukraine, Belarus and Russia .The former soviet countries are secular, have similar cultural customs like the eu member’s countries and preserved their traditional European heritage.

By: Geoffrey

Geoffrey — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:37:09 +0000

Turkey is a country in transition. Its economy is modernizing, and its population is young and dynamic. However, Turkey also views itself as a regional power and does not easily compromise with its neighbours (or allies), they are looking more to the East rather than the West for their geopolitical aims, and they are moving away from secularism to a more traditional Islamic system of governance (seen in the current spat with Israel). Turkey is not European, and does not belong in Europe.

By: Lo

Lo — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:18:18 +0000

There is no way that Turkey can join the E.U. until their is progress on the Cyprus issue. The Armenian and Kurdish issues also need some more progress or Turkey will not meet E.U. requirements.

Issues involving freedom of religion and freedom of speech in Turkey must be rectified as well.

Still, perhaps it will be possible eventually for Turkey to join. It will take a long time before all the issues can be worked out.

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:48:54 +0000

Quite simply, Turkey is tired of being rebuffed by the bigoted west and you cant blame them for it. The EU cant have its cake and eat it too.