PASS THE TURKEY:

At the gates of Europe (Adar Primor, October 29, 2002, Ha'aretz)

Europe's leaders met at the end of last week for a summit focused on expanding the European Union. As expected, Turkey was left out--again. Not only wasn't the subject of Turkey's candidacy discussed by the leaders, they didn't even set a target date for opening talks about Turkey joining the EU.

For more than 40 years Turkey has been knocking on Europe's gates. Conversations with Volkan Vural, Turkey's Secretary General for European Affairs and other senior officials in Ankara, as well as at the European Commission, shows just how emotional both sides have become about the matter.

This is a colossal mistake by the Europeans and the United States should take advantage of it. Turkey likely has a brighter future than Europe does and we should ask the Turks to join us, Israel, and India in a new alliance for the 21st Century. Posted by Orrin Judd at October 29, 2002 10:22 AM