ANKARA -- Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan says European Parliament elections that saw right-wing parties strengthen indicate "the threat of growing racism in Europe."
ANKARA -- Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan says European Parliament elections that saw right-wing parties strengthen indicate "the threat of growing racism in Europe."
Source: Beta
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He was addressing members of his ruling party in Turkey's parliament after the results showed that the extreme French National Front and other right-wing parties that stand against the European Union and immigration significantly strengthened.
Many of these parties are opposed to Turkish membership in the EU. Turkey has been a candidate to join the organization for 15 years - since 1999.
Erdogan said that Turkey's membership in the EU, as a country that is predominantly Muslim, would serve as cure for racism - and anti-Semitism - in Europe.
"Europe needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the EU," said Erdogan.
Negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU started in 2005 but are barely making any progress, mainly because of Turkey's dispute with Cyprus, an EU member, and also due to the discomfort felt in the EU when it comes to accepting a country with a large population, of mostly Muslims.
Turkey is too far removed from European values. It also has issues with Cyprus, which it invaded in 1974. If Turkey is serious about joining then Erdogan will have to go and be replaced by someone who upholds the secular spirit of Ataturk. Erdogan is well aware of these issues but is playing games to get more concessions or political aclaim or both.
(T, 28 May 2014 14:48)
"Negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU started in 2005 but are barely making any progress, mainly because of Turkey's dispute with Cyprus, an EU member, and also due to the discomfort felt in the EU when it comes to accepting a country with a large population, of mostly Muslims."
Please add also due to
- Turkey being far away from democratic standards
- Turkey being far away from religious freedom (for other religions thatn Muslims)
- Turkey being far away from human rights standards
- Turkey being the country that has most journalists sent to prison
- Turkey has laws that allows any opponent being imprisoned for 'insulting Turkdom' and similar nonsense
- Turkey has a president that sends police to kill protesters
- Turkey doesn't honor freedom of expression, they censor not only newspapers and magazines, but Youtube and Twitter also, most TV channels are ruled by the AKP.
I can only hope for two options:
- either Turkey will never become EU member
- or the Turkish people manage to finally get rid of this pseudo-religious autocrat/dictator Erdogan and his islamist ideas
(Comm. Parrisson, 28 May 2014 12:37)
Yes, Joachamin, Serbia should definitely meditate a bit. It should do some deep meditation and soul searching, for it has no clue where is is going or what it is doing. The so called ex-radicall progressives want to join the EU, fo the benefits (euros), of course, and the socialists still love their Ruskie brothers, and can't cut that communist umbilical cord. So do your mantras Serbia, relax, exhale, and repeat, "Kosovo is no longer Serbia". There, doesn't that feel better?
(Winston, 28 May 2014 02:21)
The EU will not let any Muslim country join it unless perhaps after all Christian countries (Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, perhaps even Moldova and Ukraine) join first then Bosnia (because it's not entirely Muslim) then if the EU survives Albania and "Kosova" may join, 30 years from now, but Turkey, forget it.... never
(Walter, 27 May 2014 23:37)
European Parliament elections show clearly that more and more people are sick and tired of the EU!
Serbia should meditate about that before applying for membership!
(Joachim, 27 May 2014 22:24)
The guy has lost touch with reality and is becoming a joke.
What he forgot to say in his speech is that actually there is no dilemma, no bargain, no negotiation. Because european society has indicated clearly and many times that turkey i not wanted in the european union.
Mr erdogan should stay in Asia/ Middle East where he belongs. This is what he should had said to his voters. The truth
(scepticism, 27 May 2014 18:29)
No. Europe needs Istanbul, the Bosphoros, and more access to the Black Sea. Neo-Ottomans are an entirely optional item.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 27 May 2014 17:58)
Not sure who needs who, or more or less or if needed at all. there is no doubt, that Turkey is growing in significance and clout, it has a booming economy, larger in size than many in the EU already and it does not suffer the crises that has gripped most of the Mediterranean EU members. whoever believes that Turkey is irrelevant to Europe and can be ignored or belittled, doesn't know what they're on about. This though is not say that the EU needs Turkey. The follow-up question to that would be, needs Turkey for what? Granting membership would take EU's borders next to Iran, Syria, Iraq and many other troubled hotspots. I don't know how wise that would be. As far as the far right is concerned, it is indeed sad that we see the rise of moronic parties who offer no real solutions to the problems of the 21st century, beyond scapegoating certain groups. It seems to me, for all the condescending attitudes that Europeans reserve for Americans, the rise of fascism still seems to be a more likely occurrence in Europe than in the States.
(Nikolle, 27 May 2014 16:43)
"Europe needs Turkey more than Turkey needs Europe." With all due respect, if this were true there would be swarms of E.U. bureaucrats all over Istanbul trying to convince the Turks that the E.U. is their only path to salvation.
(robert1899, 27 May 2014 16:28)
The guy has lost touch with reality and is becoming a joke.
What he forgot to say in his speech is that actually there is no dilemma, no bargain, no negotiation. Because european society has indicated clearly and many times that turkey i not wanted in the european union.
Mr erdogan should stay in Asia/ Middle East where he belongs. This is what he should had said to his voters. The truth
(scepticism, 27 May 2014 18:29)
"Europe needs Turkey more than Turkey needs Europe." With all due respect, if this were true there would be swarms of E.U. bureaucrats all over Istanbul trying to convince the Turks that the E.U. is their only path to salvation.
(robert1899, 27 May 2014 16:28)
No. Europe needs Istanbul, the Bosphoros, and more access to the Black Sea. Neo-Ottomans are an entirely optional item.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 27 May 2014 17:58)
European Parliament elections show clearly that more and more people are sick and tired of the EU!
Serbia should meditate about that before applying for membership!
(Joachim, 27 May 2014 22:24)
"Negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU started in 2005 but are barely making any progress, mainly because of Turkey's dispute with Cyprus, an EU member, and also due to the discomfort felt in the EU when it comes to accepting a country with a large population, of mostly Muslims."
Please add also due to
- Turkey being far away from democratic standards
- Turkey being far away from religious freedom (for other religions thatn Muslims)
- Turkey being far away from human rights standards
- Turkey being the country that has most journalists sent to prison
- Turkey has laws that allows any opponent being imprisoned for 'insulting Turkdom' and similar nonsense
- Turkey has a president that sends police to kill protesters
- Turkey doesn't honor freedom of expression, they censor not only newspapers and magazines, but Youtube and Twitter also, most TV channels are ruled by the AKP.
I can only hope for two options:
- either Turkey will never become EU member
- or the Turkish people manage to finally get rid of this pseudo-religious autocrat/dictator Erdogan and his islamist ideas
(Comm. Parrisson, 28 May 2014 12:37)
The EU will not let any Muslim country join it unless perhaps after all Christian countries (Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, perhaps even Moldova and Ukraine) join first then Bosnia (because it's not entirely Muslim) then if the EU survives Albania and "Kosova" may join, 30 years from now, but Turkey, forget it.... never
(Walter, 27 May 2014 23:37)
Not sure who needs who, or more or less or if needed at all. there is no doubt, that Turkey is growing in significance and clout, it has a booming economy, larger in size than many in the EU already and it does not suffer the crises that has gripped most of the Mediterranean EU members. whoever believes that Turkey is irrelevant to Europe and can be ignored or belittled, doesn't know what they're on about. This though is not say that the EU needs Turkey. The follow-up question to that would be, needs Turkey for what? Granting membership would take EU's borders next to Iran, Syria, Iraq and many other troubled hotspots. I don't know how wise that would be. As far as the far right is concerned, it is indeed sad that we see the rise of moronic parties who offer no real solutions to the problems of the 21st century, beyond scapegoating certain groups. It seems to me, for all the condescending attitudes that Europeans reserve for Americans, the rise of fascism still seems to be a more likely occurrence in Europe than in the States.
(Nikolle, 27 May 2014 16:43)
Yes, Joachamin, Serbia should definitely meditate a bit. It should do some deep meditation and soul searching, for it has no clue where is is going or what it is doing. The so called ex-radicall progressives want to join the EU, fo the benefits (euros), of course, and the socialists still love their Ruskie brothers, and can't cut that communist umbilical cord. So do your mantras Serbia, relax, exhale, and repeat, "Kosovo is no longer Serbia". There, doesn't that feel better?
(Winston, 28 May 2014 02:21)
Turkey is too far removed from European values. It also has issues with Cyprus, which it invaded in 1974. If Turkey is serious about joining then Erdogan will have to go and be replaced by someone who upholds the secular spirit of Ataturk. Erdogan is well aware of these issues but is playing games to get more concessions or political aclaim or both.
(T, 28 May 2014 14:48)
Not sure who needs who, or more or less or if needed at all. there is no doubt, that Turkey is growing in significance and clout, it has a booming economy, larger in size than many in the EU already and it does not suffer the crises that has gripped most of the Mediterranean EU members. whoever believes that Turkey is irrelevant to Europe and can be ignored or belittled, doesn't know what they're on about. This though is not say that the EU needs Turkey. The follow-up question to that would be, needs Turkey for what? Granting membership would take EU's borders next to Iran, Syria, Iraq and many other troubled hotspots. I don't know how wise that would be. As far as the far right is concerned, it is indeed sad that we see the rise of moronic parties who offer no real solutions to the problems of the 21st century, beyond scapegoating certain groups. It seems to me, for all the condescending attitudes that Europeans reserve for Americans, the rise of fascism still seems to be a more likely occurrence in Europe than in the States.
(Nikolle, 27 May 2014 16:43)
Yes, Joachamin, Serbia should definitely meditate a bit. It should do some deep meditation and soul searching, for it has no clue where is is going or what it is doing. The so called ex-radicall progressives want to join the EU, fo the benefits (euros), of course, and the socialists still love their Ruskie brothers, and can't cut that communist umbilical cord. So do your mantras Serbia, relax, exhale, and repeat, "Kosovo is no longer Serbia". There, doesn't that feel better?
(Winston, 28 May 2014 02:21)
European Parliament elections show clearly that more and more people are sick and tired of the EU!
Serbia should meditate about that before applying for membership!
(Joachim, 27 May 2014 22:24)
"Europe needs Turkey more than Turkey needs Europe." With all due respect, if this were true there would be swarms of E.U. bureaucrats all over Istanbul trying to convince the Turks that the E.U. is their only path to salvation.
(robert1899, 27 May 2014 16:28)
No. Europe needs Istanbul, the Bosphoros, and more access to the Black Sea. Neo-Ottomans are an entirely optional item.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 27 May 2014 17:58)
The guy has lost touch with reality and is becoming a joke.
What he forgot to say in his speech is that actually there is no dilemma, no bargain, no negotiation. Because european society has indicated clearly and many times that turkey i not wanted in the european union.
Mr erdogan should stay in Asia/ Middle East where he belongs. This is what he should had said to his voters. The truth
(scepticism, 27 May 2014 18:29)
"Negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU started in 2005 but are barely making any progress, mainly because of Turkey's dispute with Cyprus, an EU member, and also due to the discomfort felt in the EU when it comes to accepting a country with a large population, of mostly Muslims."
Please add also due to
- Turkey being far away from democratic standards
- Turkey being far away from religious freedom (for other religions thatn Muslims)
- Turkey being far away from human rights standards
- Turkey being the country that has most journalists sent to prison
- Turkey has laws that allows any opponent being imprisoned for 'insulting Turkdom' and similar nonsense
- Turkey has a president that sends police to kill protesters
- Turkey doesn't honor freedom of expression, they censor not only newspapers and magazines, but Youtube and Twitter also, most TV channels are ruled by the AKP.
I can only hope for two options:
- either Turkey will never become EU member
- or the Turkish people manage to finally get rid of this pseudo-religious autocrat/dictator Erdogan and his islamist ideas
(Comm. Parrisson, 28 May 2014 12:37)
The EU will not let any Muslim country join it unless perhaps after all Christian countries (Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, perhaps even Moldova and Ukraine) join first then Bosnia (because it's not entirely Muslim) then if the EU survives Albania and "Kosova" may join, 30 years from now, but Turkey, forget it.... never
(Walter, 27 May 2014 23:37)
Turkey is too far removed from European values. It also has issues with Cyprus, which it invaded in 1974. If Turkey is serious about joining then Erdogan will have to go and be replaced by someone who upholds the secular spirit of Ataturk. Erdogan is well aware of these issues but is playing games to get more concessions or political aclaim or both.
(T, 28 May 2014 14:48)