Posted on 04/05/2009 7:54:37 PM PDT by Cincinna
The love-in between Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama proved short-lived after the French President warned his US counterpart yesterday to keep his nose out of the issue of Turkey’s membership of the European Union.
President Obama used his first EU-US summit, on the eve of his visit to Turkey, to encourage European leaders to embrace the Muslim country and “anchor it in Europe”. However, Mr Sarkozy, a long-standing opponent of full membership for Turkey, rebuffed the US leader in language that seemed to sour the revival of Franco-US relations.
Support for Turkey in joining the EU, a process that it began formally in 2005 and hopes to complete before 2020, has long been an American foreign policy goal.
Mr Obama, who flew to Turkey last night, clearly wanted to leave on a positive note. He told EU leaders: “The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence.
“Moving forward towards Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe.”
Mr Sarkozy, who has talked of offering Turkey a privileged partnership rather than membership, did not wait to hit back. “I have been working hand in hand with President Obama but when it comes to the European Union it is up to member states of the European Union to decide [on membership],” Mr Sarkozy said in an interview on French television. “I have always been opposed to this entry and I remain opposed,” he added.
His comments laid bare the continuing EU split over Turkish membership, with France and Austria openly opposed and deep reservations in Germany and the Netherlands
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
I gotta go with the Frogs on this one. We aren’t an EU member (yet—wait until Obambi makes us socialist).
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Obama is making a huge mistake in issuing such a direct challenge to Sarko.
President Sarkozy: “I have been working hand in hand with President Obama but when it comes to the European Union it is up to member states of the European Union to decide [on membership],” Mr Sarkozy said in an interview on French television. “I have always been opposed to this entry and I remain opposed,” he added. “
His Barckness, in his arrogance, is overstepping his bounds if he thinks he can dictate to the Europeans, especially to the French, as to what is in their best political and economic influence.
Sarko is the more politically astute and more intelligent of the two. Obviously.
Um hellllooooo, Sarko. Does Robert Gibbs need to remind you Obama is king of the world?
Why not? Turkey is full of secular half-Muslims ... just like President Urkel.
II wonder if Sarkozy has an opinion on whether New Zealand should be allowed to join the United States? Perhaps Barack Hussein Obama ought to ask him for guidance on this matter.
They haven’t figured it out yet...Bammy don’t know how to talk Turkey...
That’s because Sarko is more pro-America than our current illegal-alien president. It’s always a breath of fresh air when someone tells Obsama to stick it.
Excellent article...
http://www.americanthinker.com/2004/12/why_europe_went_wrong_on_israe.html
1.00 US DOLLAR (USD) = 1580999.75 TURKISH LIRA (TRL)
France, Netherlands, Austria and Germany have reason to fear the Turkish Hordes. Heck, they still want Spain back.
yitbos
Obama gets told by the French. Oh, geez. This is the US President? The French?
My son was a missionary in South America and when visiting him, I asked a number of people there what they thought of the United States. Their biggest gripe was U.S. meddling in their country’s business. If Obama was to change the view of America around the world, he sure blew it with this nonsense.
I am pleased, however, that Sarko has the cajones to stand up to him.
0 wants to be the big cheese.
“Hope” he stays over there long enough to let the others see the “change” we are dealing with. They too will grow to despise the empty suit.
0 wants to be the big cheese.
He thinks he’s on a roll.
Doesn't Sarkozy realize the world is now witnessing the one they have been waiting for?
/sarc off/
“The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence.”
How about this: Muslims get injustice, intolerance and violence under control in their own countries or their communities in countries where they’ve emigrated, then they can talk about EU membership.
Zero makes a speech about “ugly Americans” one day and acts like one the next!
Barack Obama really does go on a bit
Isn't it time for him to go home yet? It is good, in theory, that the new President of the United States is taking so much time to tour Europe. He arrived in London last Tuesday, has been to Strasbourg, Prague yesterday and now he's off to Turkey. It shows, I suppose, that he cares about the outside world and that is 'A Good Thing'. But his long stay means that we are hearing rather a lot from him, way too much in fact.
His speeches have long under-delivered, usually leaving a faintly empty sensation in this listener even though I welcomed, moderately, his victory last year as offering the possibility of a fresh start and a boost to confidence.
Yet, we are told that he is a great orator and in one way he certainly is. He does have a preternatural calm in the spotlight and a mastery of the cadences we associate with the notable speakers in US history - such as JFK and MLK. But beyond that, am I alone in finding him increasingly to be something of a bore?
His performance at the first press conference in London with Gordon Brown featured moments in which he sparkled - his riff on loving the Queen was a high-point. But most of the serious answers that I listened to were interminable, windy and not very impressive. At points there were pauses so long that it appeared he had simply lost his train of thought. . . .
yitbos
Oh you don’t have to explain that to me. I’m originally from canada and we were indoctrinated since 1st grade that the Americans are baaaaad. From the media to the CBC, same ole same ole. The outside world , mind you, prays for a weak America.
Even if Sarko told that to W if he were still prez, I would still have sided with Sarko.
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