’Turkey’s EU Bid Is a Great Threat to Europe’
HÜRRIYET: VIENNA - Austria's far-right Freedom Party, or FPOe, announced Sunday it could soon join the European Parliament's right-wing faction, Union for the Europe of Nations, or UEN, following a meeting of far-right parties in Vienna.

"Europe is and must be more than the European Union. We all see the Lisbon Treaty as a major problem but Turkey's accession is also a great threat for Europe," FPOe leader Heinz-Christian Strache announced in a statement. [Source: Hürriyet] Agence France-Presse | Tuesday, February 3, 2009

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Berlusconi and Erdogan to Meet in Turkey-Italy Summit in Western Province of Izmir
HÜRRIYET: High level officials from Turkey and Italy, including Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi, are set to meet at an intergovernmental summit on Wednesday in the Aegean resort city of Izmir.

After holding a tete-a-tete meeting; Erdogan and Berlusconi will co-chair the summit, the first such event ever to be held between Turkey and Italy.

The Italian foreign minister, minister of interior, minister of defense, minister of transportation and minister of economy and development are also expected to participate at the summit.

The two countries' foreign ministers will sign an agreement to found a Turkish-Italian university in Istanbul.

The ways of Turkey's participation in activities of G8, comprising world's leading industrialized nations, would be discussed in the first Turkish-Italian Intergovernmental Summit which starts on Wednesday.

Italy's assistance to Turkey's EU accession process would be confirmed and the ways of boosting Turkish-Italian cooperation would be taken up in the summit, Italian Ambassador in Ankara Carlo Marsili told the Anatolian Agency. [Source: Hürriyet] | November 12, 2008

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Turkey Rejects EU Cyprus Proposals
More proof, if indeed more proof were needed, that Turkey DOES NOT BELONG IN THE EUROPEAN UNION!

HÜRRIYET: ANKARA – A long-lasting row between Turkey and the European Union over Cyprus’ participation in NATO-led operations is deepening, as Ankara refused Brussels’ fresh proposals to overcome the deadlock through informal methods.

“Turkey refused all proposed informal arrangements (to solve the problem). We are at a dead end,” Gérard Araud, the political director of the French Foreign Ministry presiding over the EU-term presidency, told a small group of journalists here yesterday.

The problem is stemming from efforts to develop cooperation between NATO and the EU, as the two organizations are composed of almost all the same countries.

Turkey, a NATO member who wants to join the EU, is not against cooperation in principle, but objects to the participation of its regional rival, Cyprus, in the process. As a matter of fact, Cyprus and Greece blocked Turkey’s participation in the European Defense Agency, or EDA, which makes the current situation more complex.

An agreement called Berlin Plus was reached in the early 2000s, but full membership of Cyprus to the EU before finalizing the comprehensive settlement left it futile. According to Araud, both the French presidency and the EU spent a good amount of energy to solve the problem. At the beginning, a step-by-step approach was proposed that did not produce a change to Turkey’s objections. >>> | November 7, 2008

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Two New Chapters to Be Opened in Turkey-EU Conference on Dec. 18
HÜRRIYET: Two new chapters in Turkey's EU accession talks would be opened to negotiation during the intergovernmental conference between Turkey and the bloc, which is expected to be held on Dec. 18, a French minister said on Wednesday.

The new chapters would be opened during the upcoming conference, French Secretary of State Jean-Pierre Jouyet, who attended a reception held on the occasion of the 85th foundation anniversary of the Republic of Turkey in Paris, was quoted as saying by the Anatolian Agency.

Jouyet said France, as EU's rotating president, desired to open more than two chapters to negotiation with Turkey, however, due to certain developments beyond his country's control, it might not be possible to open a third chapter.

According to diplomatic sources, the two chapters to be opened to negotiation are "free movement of capital" and "information society and media".

The opening of chapter on "energy", for which Turkey is technically ready, is suspended due to several objections within EU, sources also said.

The EU opened the negotiations on two chapters, "company law" and "intellectual property law", in June, bringing the number of policy areas Turkey has opened since it began accession talks in 2005 to eight.

Although the opening of two new chapters signals progress in membership negotiations, 15 of 35 chapters remain suspended. The EU had suspended eight chapters in December 2006 due to Turkey's refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels before the Union ends its isolation of Turkish Cypriots. [Source: Hürriyet] | October 30, 2008

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HC Strache: 'Turkey Should Not Be a Member of EU'
Photo of Heinz Christian Strache courtesy of Google Images
PRESS TV (IR): Heinz-Christian Strache, the leader of Austria's far-right Freedom Party, says Turkey should not be allowed to join the European Union.

“Not now, not in 100 and not in 200 years” can Turkey become a member of the EU, said Strache Tuesday in his first news conference since his Freedom Party finished third in Sunday's parliamentary elections.

Freedom Party got 18.2 percent of votes - a higher showing than the previous elections when it acquired 11 percent, AP reported.

No party received a majority in elections. The Social Democrats and the Conservative People's Party finished first and second but scored their lowest results in history in the general elections.

He added that non-EU members should not be allowed access to Austria's social service system. 'Turkey Should Not Be a Member of EU' >>> | October 1, 2008

My Essays & Writing on Turkey in the EU:
Turkey in the EU >>> Mark Alexander | September 30, 2005

More Reasons Why Turkey and the EU Should Not Join in Union! >>> Mark Alexander | October 1, 2005

Keep Turkey Out of Europe! >>> Mark Alexander | December 3, 2005

LE MONDE:
"Les extrême droites en Europe se sont diversifiées" : Le succès de l'extrême droite en Autriche, où les deux partis qui s'en réclament ont totalisé 28 % des voix, a-t-il valeur d'exemple en Europe ?

C'est difficile de déterminer une tendance visible dans toute l'Europe. Au début des années 1980, la vague des partis d'extrême droite formait un ensemble assez cohérent autour des partis populistes xénophobes scandinaves, du FN français, de la Ligue du Nord italienne, du FPÖ autrichien, du Vlams Beelang en Flandres. On a davantage aujourd'hui des situations nationales éclatées. Il s'agit de partis de nature différentes et si certains d'entre eux ont le vent en poupe, ils butent sur l'obstacle du pouvoir.

L'extrême droite autrichienne a toujours existé. Après la guerre, elle s'est reconstituée à la fois en prenant des électeurs chez ceux qui ont toujours formé la famille "deutschenationale", mais aussi à travers les transferts d'électeurs, voire de militants venus de la gauche.

Le phénomène politique n'est pas le même ailleurs. On a vu apparaître des partis politiques issus de la droite classique qui se radicalisent pour devenir des formations d'extrême droite sans avoir de racines à l'extrême droite. En Suisse, l'UDC est un parti de gouvernement qui, à un moment donné, prend un autre positionnement politique sous la direction de Blocher. Le Parti du peuple danois et le Parti du progrès norvégien sont des droites populistes xénophobes radicalisées, mais qui sont partie intégrante de la scène politique traditionnelle. Les pays scandinaves ne les considèrent pas comme étant d'extrême droite. Ils les appellent des nouvelles droites. >>> Jean-Yves Camus, chercheur à l'Institut des relations internationales et stratégiques (IRIS) | 30.09.2008

THE SCOTSMAN:
A Scathing (and Unfair?) Attack on the Austrians from Scotland! >>> By Alan Hall in Austria | October 1, 2008

ZEIT ONLINE:
Wunsch nach Führung >>> Von Martin Gantner | 1. Oktober 2008

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A Nod to Europe: Ankara Amends Controversial ‘Turkishness’ Law
SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Turkey's parliament has accepted the government's reform of a law used in recent years to persecute writers and political dissidents. The law against "insulting Turkishness" is now a law against "insulting the Turkish nation." Whether it will help Turkey join the EU is an open question.

A long-awaited change to a law against "insulting Turkishness" was passed early Wednesday morning by Turkey's parliament, though writers and activists say the revision isn't strong enough. Critics of the law have long considered it a curtailment of free speech in Turkey and a major obstacle to Ankara's ambition to join the European Union.

Legislators voted 250-65 in favor of amending Article 301 of Turkey's penal code, which has been used to convict 745 people since 2003, including Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk and murdered journalist Hrant Dink (more...), according to the Associated Press.

The revision redefines the crime as insulting the "Turkish nation" -- instead of "Turkishness," which was vague enough to allow the government to harass political opponents. The new law also cuts the maximum jail sentence from three years to two, and requires the justice minister to approve any investigation into possible violations.

Critics are calling the reform superficial. "What needs to be done is to abolish 301 altogether," said Fatma Kurtulan, a pro-Kurdish legislator, according to AP. Kurtulan said the reform was designed to appease EU demands without actually bringing about any real change. A Nod to Europe: Ankara Amends Controversial 'Turkishness' Law >>>

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback - UK)
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Sarkozy Gives Live TV Interview in France
It is heartening indeed to learn that Nicolas Sarkozy has re-affirmed his opposition to Turkey joining the European Union. Keep it up, Monsieur le Président!

Watch BBC Video Here
Read the story HERE

THE OBSERVER:
Why French Lost Their Faith in the People's President: Nicolas Sarkozy came to power a year ago promising radical change. Now even his supporters are disillusioned. Jason Burke journeys through France's heartland to chart the end of an infatuation >>> By Jason Burke | April 27, 2008

JOURNAL DU DIMANCHE:
Fillon: "Fidèle, pas courtisan" >>>

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback - UK)
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Miliband in Turkey Securing Turkey’s Future in Eurabia
Miliband thinks that the UK needs to ‘engage’ with Turkey far more. The UK, he says, needs to be “outward looking”.

Really, Mr Miliband? So you believe that Turkey belongs in Europe, accelerating further the Islamization of the European continent.

Now what if the majority of the people of Europe disagree with you and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office? Are you still going to go ahead with bringing Turkey into the EU? Well, yes, of course you are! You wouldn’t wish to let a trifling detail like that stand in your way now would you? After all, what do the ‘common folk’ know about what’s good for them?

Mr Miliband, I don’t think you know what you’re doing, and you certainly don’t know what you’re talking about. But then what should we expect. Isn’t it true that your father was a Marxist theoretician? So what can we realistically expect from you in terms of democracy?

Listen here to David Miliband speaking about his father.


Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)

For the Sake of Christ, Go Spend More Time with Your Family, Mr Straw, Before You Ruin Europe!
DAILY EXPRESS: JACK Straw said yesterday that Turkey should be drawn in to the European Union so that Muslims and Christians can be seen to live in harmony.

The Justice Secretary indicated that he wants Turkey, which has 70 million Muslims, to be allowed into the EU as soon as possible.

He said in Istanbul: “By welcoming Turkey into Europe we will prove how two cultures can not only exist together, but thrive together.” Turkey Must Be in the EU Says Straw (more)

Mark Alexander

More Evidence that Turkey Does Not Belong in Europe
BBC: The son of murdered Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink has been found guilty of insulting "Turkishness", along with another newspaper editor.

Arat Dink and Serkis Seropyan were convicted after printing Dink's claims that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks from 1915 was genocide.

The verdict came a day after a US congressional committee backed a bill labelling the killings as genocide. Pair guilty of ‘insulting Turkey’ (more)

Mark Alexander

Sarkozy Gets Tough On Turkey: There’s No Place in the EU for Turkey, Says Sarkozy
BBC: The European Union is to start membership talks with Turkey this week in only two new areas instead of three, because of France's opposition.

Diplomats say France made clear its reservations, so the question was not discussed at a meeting of ambassadors in Brussels.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy says Turkey has no place in the EU. France snubs Turkey on EU talks (more)

Mark Alexander

We're in a hole with Islam, but we keep on digging
EDITORIAL: Isn't it funny how politicians, the leaders of the Western world, people who should know an awful lot about the history of Western civilization, know nothing about it, and if they do, they refuse to heed history's caveats? Isn't it funny how these same politicians find it unnecessary to learn about Islam and the history of its relentless growth since its inception 1400 years ago? And isn't it funny how these politicians, knowing we're in a God awful mess with Muslims because of our own folly and weakness, can think of no strategy except one that will get us further and deeper into the mire? The fact of the matter is that we're in a hole - a deep hole! And the hole is getting deeper by the week! Why? Because we refuse to stop digging!

In an article entitled ’Straw urges Turkey EU membership’, dated Sunday, October 2, 2005, Jack Straw predicted that EU nations risk driving Christians and Muslims apart if Turkey is not brought into the fold. No Jack, no! This, on the face of it, seems logical enough; I believe, however, that this is a perfect example of a logical fallacy!

What we need to do to avoid a clash of civilizations is this: We need to give these two worlds their space. Each 'world' has a different Weltanschauung, a different worldview. Therefore, these two civilizations need to learn to respect each other more, but each ‘world’ must be allowed its space to live.

The way that politicians such as Jack Straw are trying to manipulate things, they risk bringing about the clash of civilizations - here in our own backyard!

The Christian world and the Islamic world have always had their great differences. What people like Jack Straw proposes is to bring those two sides together in order to bring about harmony. How logical is that?

Anyone who has ever lived in a household in which two people who can't get on are under the same roof, will know that the sparks fly! If this is true for two people, how truer it will be for millions of people.

The sparks will start flying as soon as Turkey becomes part of Europe. Western Europeans can look forward to the rough ride. Our only hope of some common sense prevailing is with Nicolas Sarkozy. Thankfully, he remains committed to stopping Turkey’s accession. Long live Nicolas Sarkozy! Long live common sense!

©Mark Alexander

Nicolas Sarkozy on Turkey’s Bid to Join the European Union
“Negotiations began in 1964. We are in 2007. The time has rather come to tell the Turks whether we want them or if we don’t want them. For me actually, it is not a question of democracy, it is not at all a question of Muslims, of Islam. It is to say that it’s Asia, it is not Europe. One must tell clearly to this great people that is Turkey that they are meant to be the heart of the Union of the Mediterranean but not the heart of the European Union.” (Televised debate with Segolene Royal, May 2, 2007) – Nicolas Sarkozy [Source: New York Times]

Mark Alexander

Sarkozy: The Man for Our Times
Sarkozy is not only a very likeable fellow, but he is one politician in Europe who speaks sense about the question of whether to allow Turkey to accede to the EU. M. Sarkozy is against Turkey’s accession, and he is not afraid of saying so, either. Not only does France need this politician to be elected into the office of the presidency, but the rest of Europe does, too.

Whether or not to allow Turkey into Europe is one of the burning issues of our time. Very few politicians have the insight or the courage tospeak up about it. Nicolas Sarkozy does have that courage, and he is a man of insight, too. Sarkozy has all the right instincts; furthermore, Sarkozy has the right ideas on how to re-invogorate la belle France.

It is to be hoped that this very likeable man will become France’s next president. The French electorate will be doing all Europeans a big favour to vote for Sarkozy.

You might like to watch the following videos, presented to us by Le Figaro. They are snippets of the lengthy televised dual:

VIDEOS: Délinquance, Turquie... Tout les oppose

VIDEOS: A 22 h 55, l'incident sur les handicaps

VIDEOS: L'économie au coeur des passes d'armes

NZZ: Sarkozy geht als Favorit in die Stichwahl in die Stichwahl

©Mark Alexander

Keep Turkey Out of Europe!
Don't tell me that Turkey belongs in Europe! If you're in any doubt about it yourself, read this from the BBC! Turkey doesn't even have a free press. This in itself is proof, if indeed proof were needed, that Turkey does NOT belong in our democratic Europe. We can remain friends with our Turkish neighbours without getting into bed with them! Turkish culture is Islamic; European culture is Judeo-Christian. Therein lies the BIG difference!

©Mark Alexander