European Media on Oct. 3: Turkey Made EU Sick
By Ali Ihsan Aydin
Published: Saturday, October 01, 2005
zaman.com
Leading European newspapers repeated that promises given to Turkey should be kept as the European Parliament left the approval of the Negotiation Frame Document to the last minute.
The British newspaper, the Guardian’s editor, who said "It is time to talk to Turkey," added that Turkey, with its secular and Muslim democracy, is ready to be a part of the multicultural Europe.
The Independent which emphasized immediate start of negotiations wrote, "If it is aimed to make a consensus between Islam and the Christian West, there is no better country than Turkey to be found to include in the EU."
The Times said, "The promise made to Turkey cannot be taken back," and evaluated the Turkey- European Union relationships in a two-page analysis.
The Daily Telegraph used the title, "Austria sabotages Turkey's negotiations".
In France, Le Figaro, in the news titled "War of nerves between London and Vienna," said France does not want to obstruct the negotiations, "Vienna is left alone and makes UK very angry."
In Austria, the country known with its severe objection to Turkish accession to the Union, the Die Presse criticized the government's policy on Turkey and wrote that the Schüssel government ventured a harsh quarrel with its European partners with its uncompromising attitude towards Turkey.
In Belgium, Le Soir, in the article titled "Vienna delays Turkey-EU waltz" reminded that "In December 2004, all countries' presidents and prime ministers including Austria's as well had stated that the goal of the negotiations to start on October 3 was full membership."
The newspaper La Derniere Heure from the same country claimed Austrian Prime Minister Wolfgang Schüssel "plays to domestic policy" by opposing Turkey.
"Turks' pride wounded"
The French newspaper, Liberation, reminding Turkey, who wants to become a full member of the EU, was the "sick man" of Europe in the last century. The article wrote that the EU, which cannot reach a consensus even on the negotiations, is "sick of Turkey".
The newspaper, which pointed out that governments and political parties are divided among themselves about Turkey's entry to the Union, termed the situation as "a real bazaar".
The article said the Turks as well, are divided about Europe. The popularity of European opponents in Turkey increased simultaneously with that of Turkish opponents in Europe.
The reporter Marc Semo, who was sent to Turkey by the leftist newspaper, wrote in his article titled, "The Turks pride is wounded," that opposition to Europe gradually, increases in the Turkish public opinion, which had enough of EU's scolding.
On the other hand, in the article titled "Even though Chirac is left alone, he continues defending the membership," it is pointed out that Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy tries to make President Jacques Chirac and the public opinion split by asking to give Turkey privileged partnership.
Meanwhile, the last public opinion poll conducted in France manifested that 60 percent of the French oppose Turkey's membership of EU. According to IFOP poll, this rate is 70 percent for voters of the rightist Union for a People's Movement (UMP) party in power.
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