here is what opponents say about Turkey’s inclusion into EU:
“Opponents say it is too big, too populous, too poor and too culturally different to integrate into the EU, and the bloc risks a mass influx of Turkish workers and “enlarging itself to death” by extending its borders to Iran, Iraq and Syria.”
or in other words they are trying to say
“Bhangy tryin to sit with MahaRaja..NO WAY”
and honestly speaking, i can see where these opponents are coming from.
In addition, Turkey has been humiliated by EU so much in last few years that some times i really feel sorry for turks…
Kawa Challa Hansss Kee chall, apnee be bhool gaya
http://www.dawn.com/2004/12/18/top16.htm
EU, Turkey reach landmark deal to start entry talks
By Shadaba Islam
BRUSSELS, Dec 17: The European Union and Turkey reached a historic agreement on Friday on starting talks on admitting the large Muslim nation to the bloc after overcoming last minute haggling over Ankara’s relationship with EU member Cyprus.
The entry talks, expected to be long and difficult, will begin on October 3, 2005. The decision is a victory for Ankara’s long battle to confirm its European credentials by joining the EU. But Europe’ embrace of the Muslim nation – albeit a secular one – remains a grudging, reluctant affair.
The EU is imposing a range of new conditions that Ankara must meet over the next 10 to 15 years before it is deemed ready to join the Union. And in what many view as an inauspicious start, celebrations at the end of two-day summit were marred by a difficult, eleventh-hour battle over last-minute EU demands that Turkey give fast-track recognition to Cyprus via the signing of a customs’ union deal.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected this and instead forced a compromise under which he made a public verbal declaration announcing his readiness to recognize (Greek) Cyprus through the custums union before October 3 next year. EU leaders, in exchange, welcomed this.
The squabbles at the Brussels summit once again reflected many European states’ continuing ambivalence about opening the doors of their current exclusive Christian club to a large Muslim nation. But the fact that EU leaders overcame such misgivings is a sign of a new maturity in a Union which wants to become a global power and build bridges with its Islamic neighbours.
The start of negotiations is also a boost to the 15 million Muslims who live in Europe and have felt increasingly marginalized since the rise of anti-Islamic sentiments after the Sept 11 attacks on the US landmarks.
However, the summit squabbles also reflect the EU’s complex decision-making machinery where one member state – in this case tiny Cyprus - can make nationally driven demands.
Although it had never previously been a condition for starting talks with Turkey, Cyprus, which only joined the EU last May, swiftly objected to the fact that Turkey refuses to grant it diplomatic recognition.
Turkey, until now, has only recognized the self-styled state of Turkish northern Cyprus. This led to hours of shuttle diplomacy at the summit with Turkey supporters Germany and Britain being called in to mediate.
Mr Erdogan dug in his heels due to fears that voters at home and the ever-sensitive Turkish parliament would rebel if he was seen to be caving in on the spot to last-minute EU demands.
Turkey has been knocking at Europe’s door since 1963 and sees moves to EU membership as a confirmation of its European identity. The goal has spurred unprecedented reforms under Erdogan which have won wide admiration in the EU.
For Europe, taking in Turkey makes sense for a host of economic and geo-political reasons. Chancellor Schroeder has pointed often to the huge market provided by Turkey’s booming economy and population of 70 million as well as the security advantage of making Turkey a democratic, secular beacon for the Islamic world.
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende - who holds the rotating EU presidency - said the goal of negotiations beginning next year was full accession of Turkey but cautioned: “We’re going to negotiate to see if membership is possible. There’s no guarantee it is possible.”
Should negotiations fail, he said, Turkey must remain firmly anchored in EU structures. This, however, is not the same thing as the offer second class membership - dubbed a “privileged partnership” - which was rejected by EU leaders.
Turkey’s trials with the EU are not over, however. Ankara faces a huge task in meeting the bloc’s standards and while sweeping reforms by Erdogan may have started getting Turkey into shape for EU membership, Brussels is asking for much more.
The lengthy EU agenda for Turkey includes major improvements in political and economic structures. EU leaders say Turkey must make additional effort to upgrade standards for human rights, minority protection and rule of law.
More challenging for Erodgan are Europe’s calls for what many in Turkey will see as a social revolution. Women’s rights, religious freedom and difficult historic questions from Turkey’s past, including the fate of Armenians during the World War I, still need to be addressed.
REUTER ADDS: The 25 EU leaders, though agreed to open accession negotiations with Turkey, said talks would be open-ended with no guaranteed outcome in a nod to deeply sceptical public opinion in much of western Europe.
“(It) is an historic event. It shows that those who believe there is some fundamental clash in civiliZations between Christian and Muslim are actually wrong, that we can work together and we can cooperate together,” British Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters.
Turkey pledged unilaterally to sign a protocol extending its EU association agreement to 10 states which joined the bloc in May, including Cyprus, before it starts entry talks.
In return, Balkenende, holder of the EU presidency, would spell out that this was not tantamount to recognition of the Greek Cypriot government in Nicosia, which Ankara has rejected until there is a settlement for the divided island.
Diplomats said the EU dropped a humiliating demand that Turkey initial the pact immediately on Friday. At one point, Erdogan threatened to walk out after Cyprus demanded a written commitment. He was dissuaded by Balkenende, Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, the diplomats said.
EU leaders kept summit guest UN Secretary General Kofi Annan waiting for 1-1/2 hours as they negotiated over Cyprus. A Turkish official quoted Erdogan as telling Balkenende at one point: “You are choosing 600,000 Greeks (Cypriots) over 70 million Turks, and I cannot explain this to my people.”
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw played down the political significance of signing the so-called Ankara protocol, saying: “It does not involve formal or informal recognition of the government of Cyprus and we have been trying to reassure the Turkish government about that.”
A British diplomat noted many countries had legally binding agreements with entities such as the Palestinian Authority or Taiwan without recognizing them as states. Turkey’s accession process is certain to be long and fraught with membership at least a decade away.
It will force Turkey to transform its economy, society and long authoritarian politics, and require the EU to revise fundamentally its two main spending policies - farm subsidies and regional aid, which the poor nation would expect to draw on.
The EU decision made clear Turkey could not join before 2015, by which time it is projected to have the bloc’s largest population with more than 80 million, giving it the most voting power in decision-making and the most European Parliament seats.
Turkey’s supporters say bringing in the vast, mainly agrarian country on the cusp of Europe and the Middle East, viewed by Washington and others as a key Western ally, would spread stability and security, and promote dialogue with the Islamic world by taking in a vibrant Muslim democracy.
Opponents say it is too big, too populous, too poor and too culturally different to integrate into the EU, and the bloc risks a mass influx of Turkish workers and “enlarging itself to death” by extending its borders to Iran, Iraq and Syria.