This has stayed well hidden -
it is a month old! I can imagine they
would want it kept hidden.
There is, however, no easy answer here, for Turkey is pivotal in the
most unstable part of the globe ranging from the Ukraine to the
Indian borders and from Mongola down to the Aegean. If radical
Islam could get hold of Turkey - which could happen if Turkey felt an
outcast - then I think I would worry even more than I worry about
Turkey joining the EU.
If they hadn't had the carrot dangled in front of them I would come
down against their membership largely on the grounds of geography!
It's not easy, and passions run high.
xxxxxxxxxx cs
=====================
IN THE NEWS CO UK 5.11.08
UK politicians united behind Turkey accession
Europe's economy would benefit hugely from Turkey's accession to the
European Union, a pamphlet out today argues.
Foreign secretary David Miliband and his Conservative shadow William
Hague have united to deliver supportive statements on the pamphlet by
the London-based Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) thinktank.
It argues European economic and energy security prospects will be
improved as a result of Turkish accession.
The EU's largest players are divided on whether Turkey should be
given membership. Germany remains uncertain while French president
Nicolas Sarkozy has said Europe should "give itself borders" and that
not every country has a "vocation" to join.
Britain thinks otherwise, as today's pamphlet shows. Mr Miliband
argues Turkey is a partner of "immense promise" and links its "reform
trajectory" to an ongoing belief that the EU welcomes its advances.
And Mr Hague warns that a rejection of Turkey would send a signal
that the EU is "inward-looking" and "fearful of the world beyond its
borders".
European enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn is set to present his
latest update on EU accession talks later today.
There have been difficulties in recent months. Since winning a second
term last summer the Turkish government has pursued a populist policy
of slowing down the accession process.
The global financial crisis means its economy is also facing
difficulty. Chatham House expert Fadi Hakura recently told
inthenews.co.uk prime minister Reycep Tayyip Erdogan's response had
been one of "stagnation and inertia".
Despite these problems, FPC policy director Adam Hug says a positive
approach by the EU could help push Turkey towards, rather than away
from, Europe.
"Turkish membership signifies a choice for Europe between becoming an
outward-looking union at peace with its internal diversity that
prioritises the economic and security needs of its members, or an
insular, almost parochial grouping, searching for an imagined
cultural homogeneity," he said.
"If Turkey succeeds in fully implementing the EU's accession
criteria, which are the toughest requirements given to any candidate
country, it will have earned the right to join the European Union."
would want it kept hidden.
There is, however, no easy answer here, for Turkey is pivotal in the
most unstable part of the globe ranging from the Ukraine to the
Indian borders and from Mongola down to the Aegean. If radical
Islam could get hold of Turkey - which could happen if Turkey felt an
outcast - then I think I would worry even more than I worry about
Turkey joining the EU.
If they hadn't had the carrot dangled in front of them I would come
down against their membership largely on the grounds of geography!
It's not easy, and passions run high.
xxxxxxxxxx cs
=====================
IN THE NEWS CO UK 5.11.08
UK politicians united behind Turkey accession
Europe's economy would benefit hugely from Turkey's accession to the
European Union, a pamphlet out today argues.
Foreign secretary David Miliband and his Conservative shadow William
Hague have united to deliver supportive statements on the pamphlet by
the London-based Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) thinktank.
It argues European economic and energy security prospects will be
improved as a result of Turkish accession.
The EU's largest players are divided on whether Turkey should be
given membership. Germany remains uncertain while French president
Nicolas Sarkozy has said Europe should "give itself borders" and that
not every country has a "vocation" to join.
Britain thinks otherwise, as today's pamphlet shows. Mr Miliband
argues Turkey is a partner of "immense promise" and links its "reform
trajectory" to an ongoing belief that the EU welcomes its advances.
And Mr Hague warns that a rejection of Turkey would send a signal
that the EU is "inward-looking" and "fearful of the world beyond its
borders".
European enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn is set to present his
latest update on EU accession talks later today.
There have been difficulties in recent months. Since winning a second
term last summer the Turkish government has pursued a populist policy
of slowing down the accession process.
The global financial crisis means its economy is also facing
difficulty. Chatham House expert Fadi Hakura recently told
inthenews.co.uk prime minister Reycep Tayyip Erdogan's response had
been one of "stagnation and inertia".
Despite these problems, FPC policy director Adam Hug says a positive
approach by the EU could help push Turkey towards, rather than away
from, Europe.
"Turkish membership signifies a choice for Europe between becoming an
outward-looking union at peace with its internal diversity that
prioritises the economic and security needs of its members, or an
insular, almost parochial grouping, searching for an imagined
cultural homogeneity," he said.
"If Turkey succeeds in fully implementing the EU's accession
criteria, which are the toughest requirements given to any candidate
country, it will have earned the right to join the European Union."
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