EU resumes last-ditch talks on Turkey standoff

[Said1]

EU resumes last-ditch talks on Turkey standoff

LUXEMBOURG (AFX) - EU foreign ministers resumed last-ditch meetings to break a deadlock preventing the start of membership talks with Turkey, after failing to agree in overnight discussions, diplomats said.

The renewed talks opened as British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw admitted that the standoff was at a 'difficult stage,' adding that he was 'by no means certain' of striking an agreement.

The EU accession negotiations with Turkey were scheduled to start later today, but efforts to agree a 'negotiating framework' were blocked by Austrian demands that the bloc offer Ankara something less than full EU membership.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he remains hopeful the EU can start membership talks with Turkey, despite Austria's continued resistance.

'I told you last night, I will repeat it today: I am an optimist,' he told reporters on arrival for new discussions after EU foreign ministers failed to find a solution in late-night haggling last night.

'I'm sure that we will find a solution,' he said.

The landmark EU-Turkey talks were due to start later today, but EU foreign ministers have so far failed to reach a deal on Austrian demands that the EU offer something less than full membership to Turkey.

EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also voiced hope. 'I hope there will be a solution,' she said.

Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht said there was no sign of a breakthrough so far. 'According to the latest information that I have the night did not bring much relief, that's to say it's still blocked,' he said.

Germany's Joschka Fischer also voiced hope that a deal could be struck. 'I hope we can reach agreement on this. It is a question of political will,' he said.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn warned that failure to strike a deal would be a significant blow to the already crisis-hit EU.

'I think it will be very, very important damage. What we are doing is very important for the credibility of the EU,' he said, but added: 'I think we will find a solution.'

Failure to start the Turkey talks would only deepen an EU crisis triggered by French and Dutch voters' rejection of the bloc's draft constitution in May and June. Many cited opposition to Turkey's hopes to join the EU as a reason for voting 'no'.

Link

 

[ekrem]

PACTA SUNT SERVANDA

 

[nosarcasm]

hey now. The EU is pro capitalism anti cooperatism.

The only problem is the beauracracy,

 

[Said1]

hey now. The EU is pro capitalism anti cooperatism.

The only problem is the beauracracy,

Which makes them what?? Pro-centralized government?

 

[nosarcasm]

not really , the nation states are still independent, but they put
their friends in easy jobs within the EU. Then they blame
harsh (in the view of the socialist population) changes on the EU.

On of the main misperception is that the EU is a pro socialist
adventure.

But when you look at who supports the Eu ( big business with money)
you see who drives the agenda. Dont get me wrong I support that
pro business agenda.

 

[Said1]

not really , the nation states are still independent, but they put
their friends in easy jobs within the EU. Then they blame
harsh (in the view of the socialist population) changes on the EU.

On of the main misperception is that the EU is a pro socialist
adventure.

But when you look at who supports the Eu ( big business with money)
you see who drives the agenda. Dont get me wrong I support that
pro business agenda.

I'm aware of that, it was a joke, for the most part.

 

[nosarcasm]

you got me there right on, eh limey. :cof:

 

[Said1]

you got me there right on, eh limey. :cof:

Limey??

Now I know you meant Hoser, eh?

 

[Zhukov]

European Union Formally Opens Talks on Turkey's Joining

LUXEMBOURG, Tuesday, Oct. 4 - After days of wrenching negotiations, Turkey and the European Union held a brief ceremony here early Tuesday that formally opened talks on Turkey's bid to join the union.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/international/europe/04turkey.html

 

[Said1]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/international/europe/04turkey.html

Who thinks the EU will destroy itself before Turkey is admitted?

I can't back that up with "facts" or anything, just a hunch.

 

[ekrem]

(...)
Austria: land of Edelweiss and yodelling and the greatest enthusiasm for far-right politics in western Europe; a land in which, according to legend, one can scarcely open a cupboard without stumbling across an old Nazi in hiding.
(...)
A poll at the weekend found that 73% of Austrians opposed accession on the grounds of "cultural difference", which, with the memory of former Nazi president Kurt Waldheim not quite dead yet, sounded suspiciously like a euphemism.
(...)
Of course, even if Austrian intransigence is partly due to racism, it doesn't help to tackle it with an outburst of counter-racism. The stereotype of Austria as a country which has never faced up to its Nazi past overlooks all the soul-searching that went on there in the late 1980s, after Waldheim was outed as a former Wehrmacht officer. Like the Channel Islands, Austria was forced to amend its self-portrait as a victim of the war and own up to its complicity.
(...)
The case remains however, that any skin tone deeper than light tan is enough to make one stand out in Salzburg, and only five years ago Jorg Haider's extreme right Freedom Party took 27% of the national vote. Recently the world's most prominent Austrian, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was found to have a Nazi father hiding in the cupboard.

And so stories of Austria's "problem" continue to abound. Last year, Max Hastings wrote of his abrupt departure from a dinner party after an Austrian diplomat at the table expressed sympathy for Waldheim, who, she said, had been "grossly traduced by a conspiracy of Jews". With attitudes like this, Austria exhibits a certain cultural difference from the 24 other nations of Europe who voted to allow Turkey into the EU. Perhaps it should consider altering the terms of its membership.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1584160,00.html


Austria is a remaining of the 3rd Reich where Alied soldiers had to dis-nazify those regions, too as they did in Germany....


Austrians have a Turk-complex...
EU is damaged in general Turks' view.

17. December 2004, EU agreed to open up talks with Turkey on 3rd October 2005.
But Austria had to play Turk-hate again.


3rd October should have been a celebration day.
But it will be the day in the annals of history, that chenged Turks view of Europe.

 

[ekrem]

Who thinks the EU will destroy itself before Turkey is admitted?

I can't back that up with "facts" or anything, just a hunch.

Turkey is Democracy. When all 35 EU-Negotiation chapters are fullfilled and done, there will be a referendum in Turkey, too.

People will decide whether they want to turkify Europe or not.



Not the Memebership is important, but the negotiations.
Last year for example 10 new East-european Members joined EU.
They negotiated with EU for about 8 Years. All investments and wealth came in those negotiation years.

So it will be with turkey.
When Turkey is at the point where it is economically strong enough, it will say: "No, Thank you: EU"

to the last survey shown in Turkish TV on 2nd October 2005 only 52% of Turkey want to join EU. One year before it was ~65%...


EU-euphoria in Turkey is sinking and sinking... Europeans think Turks are barbarians, and they do not want Turkey in EU. All double-tongued.



EU wants Turkey because Turkey is becoming an Energy-Oil-Line to the west.
Also Turks will soon become 100 Mio inhabitants. A huge market for EU.
Also EU wants to build up an own Army competitive for NATO.
EU to be a global Player does need Turkey for this reasons.

Beacuse till today Turkey is blocking EU-Army with their Veto-Right in NATO.
Because EU-Army wants to use NATO-weapons and NATO-equipment.
When one NATO-Member says: "No EU-Army will touch NATO-equipment", than EU-Army is only a paper-tiger.



I think, Turkey should form an Union itself:

Turkey
Israel
Jordan
Azerbaycan
Georgia
perhaps Iraq when it becomes a full-democracy and secularistic.

Later on, all turkic central asian Nations could join this Union...



But when Turkey joins EU, it will ensure that ISRAEL becomes EU-Member,too...
So then After England, Poland, Turkey and ISrael there would be enough Trojan Horses in EU for "Old-Europe"...

 

[nosarcasm]

the Turkish had a tendency to besiege Vienna. To my surprise
the Austrians still seem to be sore about it.

 

[Said1]

the Turkish had a tendency to besiege Vienna. To my surprise
the Austrians still seem to be sore about it.

Didn't that happen in like 1683? <------ smilie indicates joke.

 

[Annie]

the Turkish had a tendency to besiege Vienna. To my surprise
the Austrians still seem to be sore about it.

Where is Vlad when we need him?

 

[nosarcasm]

Limey??

Now I know you meant Hoser, eh?

I meant limey.
your independence is a sham, how I do know that.

Whenever my folks were busy swatting the British you guys show
up. Dieppe indicates your leadership is either crazy or its a sham
independence.

Not to mention burning down the white house when my American
hosts burned down your sham legislature buildings. The truth hurts.

:teeth:

 

[Said1]

I meant limey.
your independence is a sham, how I do know that.

Whenever my folks were busy swatting the British you guys show
up. Dieppe indicates your leadership is either crazy or its a sham
independence.

Not to mention burning down the white house when my American
hosts burned down your sham legislature buildings. The truth hurts.

:teeth:

Humph. Details.

The queen still signs are stuff though, how neat is that. OYE!