Mixed reaction to Turkey decision (Turkey into the EU in 2005/2006?)

[E]lsewhere in Europe, the reaction has been less positive. Supporters of the populist Northern League Party in Italy took to the streets to protest at the decision. According to media reports, they unfurled banners saying, "yes to Christian roots". Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel announced that his country would join France in holding a referendum on Turkey’s accession, adding another potential obstacle in Ankara’s path... Nicolas Sarkozy, former Finance Minister and rising star of French politics, renewed his call for a "privileged partnership" with Turkey, rather than full membership... Cyprus warned over the weekend that it could still block Turkey’s membership bid. Speaking on Cypriot television, President Tassos Papadopoulos said, "The Republic of Cyprus has the right not to consent to the start of entry talks". Controversy over Cyprus nearly scuppered the deal during last Friday’s negotiations, with Turkey refusing to recognise the republic and the EU insisting that Turkey expand its customs agreement to the new Member States – including Cyprus... Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter reports that the Kurdish minority in Turkey are disappointed because their hopes to have their language recognised were not raised as a issue. Of the 70 million people in Turkey, 20 million are Kurds... Any EU member can veto the closing of a chapter leaving much scope for blocking Turkish progress. And even if the laborious process of agreeing accession is achieved, referendums in France or Austria could still see Turkey falling at the last hurdle.

What are friends for?

French President Chirac gave a TV speech before December, 17 and ‘promised’ Turkey to support its EU bid. President said in his speech that the ultimate aim of talks with Turkey would be full-membership, not a Privileged partnership or any ‘B’ plan. However it was the same Chirac who made enormous efforts to put vague terms into the Summit Decision which could be interpreted as ‘privileged partnership’ or could be used to obstruct Turkey’s membership.

From France's Awkward Stance in Turkey's EU Bid Also from this very interesting Turkish Weekly article:

They [French politicians] blame modern Turkey for the Ottoman period claiming Turks made a ‘genocide’ against the Armenians. Turks do not accept these allegations, yet it is difficult for them to understand France’s attitude.

There is a strong Armenian diaspora in France (about 300.000) and they have a great influence on French politics and media. They have frequently made pressure over the Government and Parliament. The French Parliament passed a law applying the word ‘genocide’ to the 1915 conflicts. In fact the decision was taken by about 50 parliamentarians and many French parliamentarians were been threaten not to obstruct passing of the law. The French Government said this was a domestic political issue, not the French Government’s official policy. The French Ambassador in Turkey, French FM and PM ensured Ankara that French Government saw the problem as historians’ business, not the politician’s. Despite all these, Turkish people angrily protested France, and French companies’ business in Turkey was badly affected from the law. Turkish Government does not accept ‘genocide allegations’. Turkish historians say there is no genocide but mutual killings between Armenians, Kurdish and Turkish peoples. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from ISRO for instance says about 500.000 Muslims were killed by the armed Armenian separatists. “There was an Armenian riot. Armenian separatists undermined Ottoman security during the World War I. They fanatically supported the Russian side. The Istanbul Government had to resettle thousands of Armenians. Most of them reached the safe places in Syria and other Ottoman States. However some of them died due to the tribal attacks, epidemic diseases and war circumstances. But no one can name these killings and lost as ‘genocide’. And 1915 events cannot be compared with Holocaust or Genocide done in Algeria” added Dr. Gulcan.
The French Government avoided using the term ‘genocide’ until December, 14 – just three days before Turkey and the EU agreed to start membership talks. The French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier used ‘genocide’ term first time before the summit and this was only a small piece what Barnier and other French politicians did in order to hinder start of membership talks with Turkey before the Summit.
[ . . . ]
French FM means that they will do anything to prevent Turkey’s membership, and if France cannot find anything current, it will use ‘history’ to block the Turks. If the so-called history will not work, he may use ‘chemistry’, ‘mathematics’, or even ‘astronomy’. As Baris Sanli, Turkish columnist, argues that “France may ask Turks to bring a stone from the Moon to start the negotiations”.

Turkey lashes out at France and the Netherlands
Financial Times | September 16, 2005 | By Lionel Barber, US Managing Editor, in New York
Posted on 09/17/2005 10:02:35 AM PDT by joan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1486418/posts

EU/Turkey politics: Turkey talks
The Economist Intelligence Unit
Posted on 09/27/2005 2:20:12 PM PDT by Alex Marko
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1492360/posts

Turkey warns of terror wave if EU membership is rejected
EU Observer | Dec 13 2004 | Lisbeth Kirk
Posted on 12/14/2004 10:10:42 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1301677/posts

EU Rebuff Would Affect Ties With Turkey: Turkish PM
Agence France Presse | Sunday, September 12, 2004 | correspondent
Posted on 09/12/2004 7:13:34 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1214238/posts

Austria says it will have referendum on Turkey
EU Observer | Dec 17 2004 | Honor Mahony
Posted on 12/18/2004 1:29:51 PM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1304238/posts

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