Analysis: It?s a long way to Copenhagen ? Turkey?s membership of and convergence with the European Union
EurActiv, Friday 24 March 2006
In this CEPS policy brief, Willem Buiter, Professor of European Political Economy at the European Institute of the London School of Economics and Political Science, argues that, with the right institutions and policies, Turkey could become a true tiger economy. But with the institutions and policies of the second half of the 20th century, it could end up a mangy cat instead of a tiger. This policy brief is motivated by some rather optimistic official reports and especially by the World Bank?s recent Country Economic Memorandum for Turkey, ?Promoting Sustained Growth and Convergence with the European Union?.
Turkey?s EU Odyssey : 1964-?
CROSSROADS-The Macedonian Foreign Policy Journal, n° 02/2007, pp. 191-193
Seyfi Taşhan *
Since the end of the First world War Turkey considered itself a European country and as such took place in almost every European international organizations. It became a member of the Council of Europe almost together with its founders in 1949; it became a European member of NATO and took part in the activities of all international organizations as a member of the European geographic area. In the same spirit when the Rome Treaty founding the European Economic Community was signed in 1957, Turkey did not long hesitate to apply for membership in this new European venture and applied for membership in 1959. Taking part in this new organization would, not only contribute to Turkey?s economic development but would enhance its security by creating stronger bonds with European member countries and would enhance credibility of the North Atlantic Alliance in so far as European commitment was concerned.
CDU is Turning Turk
Mavi Boncuk |Aygul Ozkan from Germany’s Christian Democratic Union has been named minister for social affairs in Lower Saxony, becoming the first Turkish-descent politician to win a ministerial post in a state in Germany.
Turkey’s transformation under the AKP (III) – Solidarity with anti-Western and Islamist regimes
Turkey, leader of the Muslim world?
The Globe and Mail (Canada), Monday, Apr. 12, 2010
Neil Reynolds
Political scientist George Friedman thinks so. When the next global war breaks out, he reckons, Turkey will join Japan to drive the U.S. out of the Middle East and the Pacific
In mid-March, Turkish President Abdullah Gul travelled to Cameroon for his country?s first trade mission to a central African nation. He got a warm welcome, The Economist reported. ?Turkey must reclaim its mantle,? one Islamic cleric told him, ?as leader of the Islamic world.? In this context, you?re not talking restoration of the Ottoman Empire ? you?re talking expansion. Although the Ottoman Empire embraced Egypt, Libya, Algeria and Sudan, it never reached central Africa. For its part, The Economist recognized the credibility of resurrected Turkish ambitions. African countries have bitter memories of Western colonialists and Arab slave traders, the magazine noted. In contrast, they regard Turks as enlightened and humane.
Turkey and the Middle East: ambitions and constraints
Europe Report N°203 (International Crisis Group) Türkçe
Istanbul/Brussels, 7 April 2010
Turkey is launching initiative after ambitious initiative aimed at stabilising the Middle East. Building on the successes of its normalisation with Syria and Iraq, it is facilitating efforts to reduce conflicts, expanding visa-free travel, ramping up trade, integrating infrastructure, forging strategic relationships and engaging in multilateral regional platforms. For some, this new activism is evidence that Turkey is turning from its traditional allies in Europe and the United States. In fact, its increased role in the Middle East is a complement to and even dependent on its ties to the West.
Les nouveaux horizons de la diplomatie turque
Le Monde (France), 21 avril 2010, p 17
Guillaume Perrier, Istanbul
Notre axe, c?est Ankara et notre horizon a 360° C ?, résume Ahmet Davutoglu. Nommé il y a moins d?un an, après avoir été le principal conseiller diplomatique du président, Abdullah Gül, et du premier ministre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, depuis 2003, le ministre turc des affaires étrangères est l?architecte de la nouvelle diplomatie turque, à l?oeuvre sur tous les fronts. Il enchaîne les visites à l?étranger, multiplie les contacts et les médiations. Longtemps perçue sur la scène internationale comme un nain diplomatique, la Turquie revendique désormais une place parmi les puissants. ? Nous avons beaucoup de choses à dire. Les grandes nations vont nous entendre ?, avertit le ministre, qui a orchestré l?offensive.
Sarkozy stands between Turkey, EU (SETimes.com)
MAIN FOCUS: A setback for Cyprus’s unity | 21/04/2010
The Turkish nationalist Derviş Eroğlu won the presidential elections held in Turkish North Cyprus on Sunday. Eroğlu could block the peace negotiations with the Greek southern part of the island on which Turkey’s EU’s accession also depends, writes the press.
EU should seize chance for a breakthrough in Cyprus dispute
from Brussels Blog by Tony Barber
Nicolas Sarkozy n?ignore plus la Turquie
Libération (France), 21 avril 2010, p. 12
Bernard Guetta
Il le murmurait il y a dix-huit mois, il le martèle aujourd?hui. Loin d?avoir abandonné cette idée, Nicolas Sarkozy croit plus que jamais nécessaire et possible d?organiser le continent européen en un « espace économique et de sécurité », unissant l?Union européenne, la Turquie et la Fédération de Russie.
Turkey Reawakening to Its Vast Iranian Ties
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