Turkey to freeze EU ties if Cyprus gets EU presidency

[Mediocrates]

I think there's less to this than meets the eye - relations between Turkey and the west are coming to an end anyway.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...78H0GN20110918

From news article:

The comments could signal a new low point in ties between the European Union and Turkey which began accession talks to the bloc in 2005. They come at a time of heightened tension in the eastern Mediterranean where Turkey is locked in a row with Cyprus over potential offshore gas deposits and Turkey's relations with one-time ally Israel are frayed. EU-candidate Turkey will freeze relations with the European Union if Cyprus is given the EU presidency in 2012, Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay was quoted as saying by the state-run news agency Anatolian late on Saturday.

[Iacob]

Turkey in the current state does not belong to Europe. They have more in common with Iran, Iraq or other middle east Islamic States than European States.

Also, Long term, Europe one way or another will slowly progress to become a federal state , in some ways similar to USA but in other ways very different. I don't see how a country that bullies its neighbours, has an extremely poor record of human rights can ever become a member in that Federal State (USE). Let alone a member that according to population will have almost as many votes in the European Parliament as Germany. Forget Islam, it has nothing to do with religion, most Europeans are atheists anyway.

If Turkey breaks into 3 pieces, The east being part of Kurdish State, the Middle being Turkey proper and a European/Aegean west part (Ionia). Then that western part could and will become part of European Union.

[dayag]

Turkey thinks they can dictate to the EU who can be their president with such an empty threat? I doubt the Europeans are impressed.

[Mediocrates]

Exactly, there are no 'relations' between Turkey and the EU. The US should immediately remove all ~90 B61 atomic bombs from storage in Turkey. Since the F-35 is going nowhere, it doesn't matter if Turkey is removed from the tiered partnership program where Turkey was ostensibly going to produce some components for it. Let Turkey throw a bunch of money at that rathole for nothing. The anti missile radar, that's already been agreed to but no one said we have to give them upgrades to it over time. The whole program is going to be leaked to Iran anyway.

[Kachah]

Turkey in the current state does not belong to Europe..

Agreed. Rather, Europe in its current state belongs to Turkey.

Also, Long term, Europe one way or another will slowly progress to become a federal state , in some ways similar to USA but in other ways very different.

Yeah, what seemed clear and definite 10 years ago is not so much of a given now. Turkey, to do them some justice, has been pissed off enough with the European refusal to accept their EU membership. Now, when the Europeans are in so much trouble I am not sure that Turkey is so keen on it. Its protection from potential Russian onslaught is not going to be any better than from NATO and it's a full member so why would they rush?
Their economy will inevitably suffer but Erdogan and his AKP were never much about economy.

[Cellis]

Turkish press says there is a mass Greek immigration to Istanbul for finding jobs. Since Papandreou and majority of the EU leaders are the top supporters of Erdogan, I think EU should join Turkey thus Greece won't have to install LPG tubes on their F16's and fill them with Noble's mediterranean gas.

Turkey's bids have been denied for several times even when Turkey had the most modern and secular years. Let me remind you that. Entire world watched Turks invading Cyprus in a day or two and I bet they will just sit back and watch again. World watched another Greek failure on Kardak rocks, while the Greek troops were on the way, Turkish special forces were grilling chicken and drinking tea, also offering some cigarettes to arriving Greek guests.

Also, Long term, Europe one way or another will slowly progress to become a federal state , in some ways similar to USA but in other ways very different.

If EU is going to be a federal state Greece should be entirely out. Greece is the cancer in EU's lungs and overwhelming majority of the European people including right wing politicians agree to remove Greece. That's how Euro can keep up with USD while EU tax payers (including me) keep their money at home.

I think Bosnia, Macedonia and Albania should be also in EU since both countries are right inside the European soil and they are the best alternatives to Greece's membership. Also EU should process Serbia and Croatia's bid faster.

Combine all the non-EU countries that are in Europe, they would knock the hell out of Greece. Macedonians would get rid of their so called F.Y.R.O.M tag and they'd gladly share some piece in the northern Greece with Albanians.

[farmboy]

When Ted Heath dragged a reluctant Brittain into what was then called the Common Market, we Brits knew it was a big mistake. Now it seems that every man and his dog feels that they have the right to join. I wonder how long untill the EU reaches China.
Should the USA invite Mexico, Guatemala, San Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Equador, to become States?
Hah I think not, so why should we REAL Europeans get lumbered with countries that do not share our cultures and values?
http://howmanyarethere.net/how-many-...-in-the-world/
And this Possibly Explains why the EU is reluctant to allow an Asian country, Turkey, into its organisation.

[Cellis]

When Ted Heath dragged a reluctant Brittain into what was then called the Common Market, we Brits knew it was a big mistake. Now it seems that every man and his dog feels that they have the right to join. I wonder how long untill the EU reaches China.
Should the USA invite Mexico, Guatemala, San Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Equador, to become States?
Hah I think not, so why should we REAL Europeans get lumbered with countries that do not share our cultures and values?

Then there should be a commonwealth union for you, a germanic union for some, let's unite vatican with italy, spain may get married with portugal, france with part of belgium, dutch with another part of belgium. That's actually great idea. Slavic cultures should unite again and let some piece of Estonia join Russians.

I cannot imagine a Canadian dying for uniting with the states.
Since the subject is all about Turks, why not to unite Turkey with Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and a lot more Turkic states. That would just rock the world.

I like the idea.

[farmboy]

Yup me too. It's great to be on the same page.

[Mediocrates]

Turkey: We thwarted Israeli office to NATO
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...123953,00.html

Turkey: We will escort exploration ships of our own (Norwegian, actually)
http://m.billingsgazette.com/mobile/...ebb655353.html
http://af.reuters.com/article/energy...7KJ11H20110919

Cyprus: Get Bent
http://af.reuters.com/article/energy...7KI0N920110918


Turkey will find that an official policy of Might Makes Right has some risks to it.

[dayag]

Turkey claims to have vetoed an Israeli office at NATO, but can Turkey veto an offer NATO already made to Israel?

But Israeli officials involved in relations with NATO said that the option of opening an office at NATO headquarters in Brussels was “realistic” and was currently under consideration within the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry.

“We do not know of any veto or of the possibility that one country can veto an offer that was made by NATO,” one government official said...

Earlier this year, NATO extended invitations to all of the countries involved in the Mediterranean Dialogue and other non-membership forums to open offices at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Defense officials said that the offer was still relevant and that it was being “positively considered” by the government. It is still unclear what the rank of the Foreign Ministry or Defense Ministry official will be who would man the mission if established.

source: http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPol...aspx?id=238541

[Iacob]

Guys,

People outside Europe often do not understand how EU works.

The Project started back in the 50s and is progressing at very slow place. This is intentional. Nothing happens in the heat of the moment.
It is both a political and economic project, and yes sometimes it stalls. Surely, we are in a "stall" phase, due to economic issues
in Greece, Portugal and Ireland but notice how new mechanisms such as EFSM, ESM and being put in place to enable the future steps.
Also, do not confuse short term economic issues with long terms strategic goals

Have no doubt that the direction is toward a federal state based more on regions and less on countries.
One step at a time, countries such as Croatia, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia etc will definitely join when the time is right.
Poland, Romania and Bulgaria already did.

[Cellis]

I personally care less about EU now. I have my own summer house in Crete and I don't want a chaotic atmosphere anywhere near there.
Now, I'm focused at Erdogan's failure. More he fails more votes he loses. He threatened Cyprus and Noble with naval confrontation but Cypriots started the project anyway. Good job Cyprus you have balls and you stated that Cypriot Turks will also benefit. He threatened Israel with military confrontation and UN pressure but he failed. They admitted that Israel will benefit from Nato radar that are being installed in Turkey. Over 5 soldiers died at home but Erdogan is in Egypt, Libya or whatever the arab country it is. MIT-PKK talks etc. Combine these all, he has lost big piece of votes. I seriously love the way Israel's strategy here! No sarcasm, I'm serious. Mossad should do more to fail Erdogan!
Even the Turkic Azerbaijan hates Erdogan! Time to gain Azerbaijan's friendship now.

[Yala]

Cyprus along with Texas firm Noble started the gas drilling last night.

[farmboy]

I personally care less about EU now. I have my own summer house in Crete and I don't want a chaotic atmosphere anywhere near there.
Now, I'm focused at Erdogan's failure. More he fails more votes he loses. He threatened Cyprus and Noble with naval confrontation but Cypriots started the project anyway. Good job Cyprus you have balls and you stated that Cypriot Turks will also benefit. He threatened Israel with military confrontation and UN pressure but he failed. They admitted that Israel will benefit from Nato radar that are being installed in Turkey. Over 5 soldiers died at home but Erdogan is in Egypt, Libya or whatever the arab country it is. MIT-PKK talks etc. Combine these all, he has lost big piece of votes. I seriously love the way Israel's strategy here! No sarcasm, I'm serious. Mossad should do more to fail Erdogan!
Even the Turkic Azerbaijan hates Erdogan! Time to gain Azerbaijan's friendship now.

I'm happy you sorted your problems out and now seem to be quite comfortable. Time to get some Eve time in now I suppose?