“Keeping Turkey out of Europe

Egemen Bağış, the chief negotiator, talks at Bahçeşehir U today after a protest by a group of leftist anti-EU students…

A positive signal from Germany, a supportive article from the Guardian (Keeping Turkey out of Europe), but a negative sign in Van Rompuy ‘s debut and a group anti-EU college students makes a fuss in Istanbul.  A funny intervention by a Bulgarian minister against Turkey who is criticised in the end by his own government… A roundup.

Turkey aims to open two chapters during Spanish term – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Germany warms to Turkish EU bid

EU concerned about verdicts on Tayyar and Baransu
Today’s Zaman
Star daily columnist Şamil Tayyar received a 20-month suspended prison sentence in the waning days of 2009 over his book on Ergenekon, titled ?Operasyon

Germany’s Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle (R), leader of Germany’s liberal party, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), embraces Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis before their meeting in Istanbul January 8, 2010. Germany will not block Turkey’s bid to join the European Union but Ankara has yet to meet all the criteria for membership, Westerwelle said on Thursday. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

Van Rompuy makes debut at Turkey-sceptic gathering

German FM backs Turkey’s EU dream (EuroNews)

Turkey’s EU negotiator denies early elections, vows for more reforms – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Keeping Turkey out of Europe | David Cronin | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Europe losing Turkey and united Cyprus

Spain?s Clos: Turkey?s EU accession should be a love affair, not a marriage of interests

EU-Turkey: Edging back from the brink? by HUGH POPE

Turkey?s friends in Europe have won an important argument. The governments of France and Germany have stopped advocating a ?privileged partnership? to replace the long-promised goal of European Union membership for Turkey.

Greek Orthodox pilgrim from Greece Ouzinos Panaiotis holds the wooden cross aloft from the waters of the Golden Horn water course in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. Greek Orthodox men braved the cold winter weather to dive into Istanbul’s Golden Horn, in a race to retrieve the wooden cross, which was thrown into the water by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the World’s Orthodox Christians, in a traditional ceremony commemorating Epiphany. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

Turkey cautions against fresh EU sanctions (Financial Times)

Bulgaria puts price on Turkey’s EU membership

from EUobserver.com – Headline News

Professor Akgün: Cyprus conflict could interrupt Turkey?s EU accession

Foreign policy expert Mensur Akgün has said that Turkey?s accession to the European Union might come to a halt if the Cyprus conflict remains unresolved.

Spain?s Clos: Turkey?s EU accession should be a love affair, not a marriage of interests

According to Spanish Ambassador to Turkey Joan Clos, the geo-strategic benefits of Turkey?s eventual accession to the European Union are overemphasized. Clos, whose country took over the six-month-long rotating presidency of the EU from Sweden on Jan. 1, believes that arguments over Turkey?s EU bid should not be based on interests.

How the AKP looks from Europe – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Bulgarian PM gives minister Bozhidar Dimitrov final warning after Turkey statements – Bulgaria – The Sofia Echo

Bulgarian prime minister Boiko Borissov has warned Bozhidar Dimitrov, the minister for Bulgarians abroad, that a repeat of the behaviour that saw Dimitrov spark tensions by publicly threatening that Sofia would veto Turkey’s EU accession efforts would cost him his Cabinet job.”