December 13, 2002

THE TURKEYS SAY NO TO TURKEY:

Bush angers Europe as Ankara is rebuffed (Philip Webster and Rory Watson, December 14, 2002 , Times of London)
TURKEY accused Jacques Chirac of blackmail and Europe of prejudice yesterday after European Union leaders dashed its hopes of early talks on entry and rebuffed US interference in their decisions.

President Bush's attempts to help Turkey because of its vital strategic role in the war against terrorism backfired when the country was given only a conditional date of the end of 2004 for the start of negotiations, with several countries accusing the American leader of strong-arm tactics.

Abdullah Gul, the Turkish Prime Minister, accused the French President of turning the EU against his country. He telephoned Tony Blair to tell him that “there is great discrimination here” and said, according to officials, that it was "an act of prejudice".

Angered by M Chirac's criticism of Turkish negotiating tactics, he added: "The real blackmail is what Chirac has done. I am very disappointed that Chirac has influenced and directed the meeting."


It's absolutely typical of them to blame us for their own moral failures. Let's hope Mr. Bush has Bob Zoellick on the next plane there. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 13, 2002 10:19 PM
Comments

"Backfire". I don't think it means what they think it means.

Posted by: David Cohen at December 13, 2002 10:19 PM

I'm confused. If Europe is doomed and its

economy is collapsing, and if Turkey is the

bright light that's going to lead Islam into

the Age of Democracy, why do you want

Turkey in the EU?



And why do the Turks want in?



It's like Augusta National Golf Club. Not

in the place to be.

Posted by: Harry at December 14, 2002 12:42 AM

I dion't. I want them in NAFTA.

Posted by: oj at December 14, 2002 4:43 AM

The Turks want in because they think Europe can do with them what it did with Greece. That's a mistake.



First of all, Greece is much smaller and less populous and secondly, the EU spends awful lots of money in Greece without getting results. Greece was backward when it joined the EU and it is still backward today.



Making your country welfare dependant is not the best thing for Turkish leaders to do. But the ineptitude of the Turkish political class is well known. In that regard, they're completely ready for EU membership.

Posted by: Peter at December 14, 2002 9:18 AM

The EU isn't perfect but the impetus for membership has been a continual factor in pushing reform forwards.

Posted by: M Ali Choudhury at December 14, 2002 4:52 PM

All;



Friday's WSJ had an editorial with the title "Turkey for NAFTA". It claimed that Erdogan, the leader of the Justice and Development Party, was in Washington asking President Bush about Turkey joining NAFTA.

Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at December 14, 2002 5:02 PM

Are we going to ask for a quid pro quo, like they

should stop murdering Kurds and Bulgarians?

Posted by: Harry at December 14, 2002 10:21 PM

Harry:



why?

Posted by: oj at December 15, 2002 4:42 AM

Because we should conserve our self-respect.

Posted by: Harry at December 15, 2002 7:45 PM
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