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Europe
Turkey does not belong in Europe: Sarkozy
2007-09-21
French President Nicolas Sarkozy reaffirmed on Thursday he did not believe Turkey should be admitted to the European Union, while calling for a “true partnership” with the mainly-Muslim nation.
“I do not believe that Turkey belongs in Europe, and for a simple reason, which is that it is in Asia minor,” Sarkozy said.
“I do not believe that Turkey belongs in Europe, and for a simple reason, which is that it is in Asia minor,” Sarkozy said in a prime-time interview on TF1 and France 2 television. “What I wish to offer Turkey is a true partnership with Europe, it is not integration with Europe,” said the president, who recently appeared to have softened his opposition to Turkish membership of the European bloc.
Posted by:Fred

#4  Too late - there's already a bunch of Turkeys in Europe, they're called EU bureaucrats.
Posted by: DMFD   2007-09-21 21:33  

#3  Given *their* history, who would think the Germans and the French would get along?

Already, Kurdistan is probably the #2 trading partner with Turkey behind Europe. This is not mentioned often. Also, oil can flow North into Turkey, and then on to Europe, which would mean big bucks soon for both Iraq and Turkey, as they could undercut Russia and maybe even BP and Dutch Shell.

Growth in the area would be interesting. Already, Turkey has some relations with Israel, and Iraq is pretty borderline in going there, too. Egypt might also want on board. So the biggest problem would be standardizing for democracy and transparency, without which it would be futile.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-09-21 16:37  

#2  Interesting idea, Moose, but two problems:

1) not sure the Arabs would trust the Turks given their history

2) if Israel is in, the Arabs are out; if Israel is out, it'll never work.
Posted by: Steve White   2007-09-21 11:52  

#1  Since Turkey is never going to enter the EU, I suggest the US should encourage it to make up with Iraq and form the nucleus of a Middle East Common Market.

We can point out that Turkey will benefit doubly from doing so, in that it will not only profit handsomely from the new MECM, but it will also serve as the "bloc gateway" to the EU.

Ironically, in past Turkey, especially Istanbul (Constantinople), profited immensely from being the gateway from West to East; and now they would do so as a gateway from North to South.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-09-21 09:41  

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