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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnM who wrote (61563)	12/13/2002 2:34:28 PM
From: Elsewhere	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

The New York Times had a short article today that the EU had refused to even enter negotiations with Turkey. I have read an article in the Financial Times Germany with a different angle: the EU had proposed a start of negotiations at the end of 2004 but Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gül is too impatient and declined it. Gül lehnt Termin für EU-Beitrittgespräche ab (Gül refuses date for EU membership negotiations) ftd.de Gül would like a date not later than May 1, 2004.

To: JohnM who wrote (61563)	12/13/2002 7:39:25 PM
From: Dennis O'Bell	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

The New York Times had a short article today that the EU had refused to even enter negotiations with Turkey. There has been talk here and there about a regime change and move to democracy in one of the Muslim states such as Iran, but I think it's far more likely that a first approximation of a liberal secular democracy will happen in a state like Turkey after entry in the EU than anywhere else. It's popular to agitate the scarecrow of a Turkey contaminating Europe, but the real "risk" is that of the West contaminating Islamism. Europe is already full of Muslims so it's not like entry of Turkey in itself is going to make matters dramatically worse in that regard. The real problems are what to do about such things as Cyprus, human rights issues (Kurds) etc. I'm not saying that things should be carelessly rushed on this score but it's something that deserves to happen eventually.

To: JohnM who wrote (61563)	12/14/2002 1:01:45 AM
From: D. Long	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Very disappointing news. I wouldn't blame the Turks if they just hung up their hats and moved on. After this much time, and recent comments, it should be obvious they will be eternal "applicants." Derek

To: JohnM who wrote (61563)	12/14/2002 10:54:45 AM
From: michael97123	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

John and Thread, With Turkey rejected, now the path is clear for Iraq membership in the EU. <g> Perhaps the rejection is a gift to Bin Laden who most assuredly hates an Islamic democracy that allies with the US, even more than he hated the secular regime. Europeans are feckless as always. In the future perhaps instead of EU, a US/Turkey/Israel/Russia/Iran(someday) trade group set up to attract Arab states who want to travel back to the future and away from the past. Hell, maybe the British will see the light and adopt the dollar rather than the euro. EU is our competitor--Let their rejections be the basis for a new group. Why in this world cant groups be trans-regional. Mike