Next month the Turks will get the chance to negotiate entry into our great Union.I for one am against this completely!
Turkey is in Asia, they are a Muslim country with it's own extremists, and quite frankly are not European.
Who else opposes Turkey getting into the EU, then?[/b]
For Turkey to be even considered for EU entry several things need to happen. Firstly the Kurdish question, which has been a major cause of instability in the region, has to be properly addressed. This means full equality, in practice as well as in law, for Kurdish language and culture, including the right to establish Kurdish language schools. The issue of greater autonomy and a possible Kurdish state should also be at least given serious consideration by the Turkish authorities.
Secondly, the support of Turkey for the illegal occupation of Northern Cyprus by a 'State' which only Turkey recognises, must be immediately withdrawn and Turkey must defer to the UN position on the affair.
Thirdly, Turkey must accept responsibility and pay suitable financial restitution for the Armenian genocide, which it still refuses to properly acknowledge took place.
Fourthly, the position of women in what is still a deeply chauvinistic society, must be improved, although it must be said to their credit that the Turks have made far more progress on this issue than many other Muslim countries.
Until these issues are properly addressed by the Turkish authorities I can really see no reason why people would support Turkish entry to the EU, unless it's to provide us with more dirt-cheap Turkish immigrants.
"Partout où la liberté règne elle est incessamment attaquée et très souvent en péril” – Jean Jacques Rousseau.
I'm all for Turkey getting in. I like them or at least the few I've met. Friendly, happy types in general.Originally Posted by Vol
Next month the Turks will get the chance to negotiate entry into our great Union.
Turkey is in Asia, they are a Muslim country with it's own extremists, and quite frankly are not European.
Who else opposes Turkey getting into the EU, then?[/b]
As for them being Muslim; sure we'll soon knock that out of them
A couple of decades of Sky TV being beamed in direct will sort all that religious nonsense out.
And anyway being muslim does not make you a bad person.
And is the EU christian? No I dont think so. The EU is secular. The French have the right attitude; if you flaunt your religion and try to smash it down peoples throat, you'll get smashed in return. Nice and simple.
Let them in and then lets start working out how to let the Morrocans,Tunisians and Algerians back in.
Remember, the Mediterranean was once a european lake.
Don't see any reason why it should'nt be again. 8)
Bazinga!
Turks are smashing people. I really enjoyed my time among them earlier this year.
I've no problem with their form of Islam, and frankly would love to see it spread throughout the Muslim world.
But they're not actually European.
We should cut a "preferred partner" deal with them and bolster their economy to provide a bulwark between the EU and scary places like Syria and Iraq.
Then we can focus on the actual basketcases of Europe that badly need our help, such as Albania and Bosnia, as well as working on persuading the Swiss, Norwegians and Icelanders of the benefits of EU membership.
Please sign the petition to establish a national day of celebration in honour of the vision of the United Irishmen!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
It's been explained to you that those are stupid reasons, right?
Why is the fact that Turkey is an Asian state a stupid reason? Do you think Kazakhstan should be a member? How about Venezuela? Or Burundi? There is every reason to maintain and strengthen economic and political ties with the Turks, but we should recognise that Turkey is not part of Europe.It's been explained to you that those are stupid reasons, right?
"Partout où la liberté règne elle est incessamment attaquée et très souvent en péril” – Jean Jacques Rousseau.
We should consider them for possible membership only AFTER we have dealt with the Balkan states, former Yougoslavia, the issue of Kaliningrad and the rich states yet to join, ie Norway, Switzerland and Iceland.
Please sign the petition to establish a national day of celebration in honour of the vision of the United Irishmen!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Because geographical boundaries between the continents are arbitrary constructs which should have no bearing on rational political decision-making. I would have no problem with any country, anywhere, joining the Union (as long as the appropriate economic and political accession criteria are met). Also, there are already member states of the Union in Africa and America. :wink:
Thank you Austria for obstructing Turkish accession to the EU by blocking an agreed statement and demanding that the statement include a warning that EU membership may not result from the negotiations.
I'd like to pay a special tribute to the German politician Dr Wolfgang Schauble, who has spoken out on this issue.
For everyone's interest, here is an email he sent me after I congratulated him for taking a stand:
Thank you for your email dating 26th of July. I appreciate that you support my view on the Turkish ambitions of becoming a full member state of the EU.
I think the EU needs to start the accession negotiations with Turkey in October as that is what the European Council decided last December. But it is important to point out that these negotiations do not automatically lead to a full membership. I am still of the opinion that a privileged partnership is the best solution both for Turkey and the EU. If the CDU wins the elections in September we will try our best to reach this goal. As you said the majority of the people, not only in Ireland but also in Germany and in other countries, do not support a full membership. Before we discuss and decide about a further enlargement of the EU we need to make sure that the people can identify with the Union. We need to take them along and make the processes of political decisions more transparent.
As you said another important argument against the full Turkish membership is the fact that this country geographically only partly belongs to Europe. Most of it is part of Asia and if Turkey should one day become a member state of the EU we would have neighbour states such as Iraq or Iran. The EU needs to decide where our boundaries are. I think they should be defined geographically. If that is what the EU is going to decide then we also need to find a new form of relationship with countries surrounding us. One possibility of this new form is the privileged partnership which my party supports.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble, MdB
Platz der Republik 1
11011 Berlin
You wouldn't get a considered response like that from Bertie!
Please sign the petition to establish a national day of celebration in honour of the vision of the United Irishmen!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote