merkel

Merkel and Sarkozy on free fall, violence in Trafalgar Square. A Euro rounup…

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A protestor waves a GMB union flag alongside an Egyptian flag from a statue in Trafalgar Square. Photograph: Getty Images. In What really happened in Trafalgar Square   Sarkozy faces test as Socialists triumph from FT.com – World, Europe The Socialists secured about 36 per cent of the vote while the National Front fared less … Read more

Turkey [still] asks Germany for help

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Turkey asks Germany for help if EU bid stalls (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan asked visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday to help Turkey if its bid for EU membership becomes deadlocked, most probably because of a dispute with Cyprus.

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R), accompanied ...

Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R), accompanied by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, (2nd R) breaks a cigarette after talking to a Turkish woman (L) after the Turkish-German Business Forum at the Ottoman-era Ciragan Palace in Istanbul March 30, 2010. Erdogan, who is leading the anti-smoking campaign in Turkey, advised the woman to give her up smoking.REUTERS/Engin Cepel/Handou

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Angela Merkel hangs out with ‘privileged partners’

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Merkel'in İstanbul ziyareti-30.03

with Egemen Bağış (Chief EU negotiator) and Ertuğrul Günay (Minister of Tourism and Culture)

all photo credits: Hürriyet

Merkel seeks to defuse Turkish schools row

from FT.com – World, Europe
Ankara wants to open Turkish-language secondary schools in Germany, but the German chancellor said her aim was for everyone in the country to participate fully in society

Merkel'in İstanbul ziyareti-30.03

with PM Erdoğan; they are bros for sure:)

ANDREW FINKEL – Eine Minute

Germany is Turkey?s biggest trading partner in Europe. There are 3 million people of Turkish origin living in Germany. Turkey is a European Union applicant. And it has been nearly four years since a German chancellor set foot on Turkish soil. What could be more natural than for Angela Merkel to pay a neighborly call, one might think. But the official visit has not got off to a flying start, at least from a public relations point of view.

Merkel'in İstanbul ziyareti-30.03


Erdogan, Merkel agree on Turkish schools in Germany?

Merkel'in İstanbul ziyareti-30.03

with President Abdullah Gül

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Merkel in town, for what?

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Probably trade deals. Turkey-Germany relations are quite dense in fact. But I never liked Merkel who keeps pushing for privileged partnership to Turkey. Negotiations for full membership continues and Merkel still fantasizes with that. What kind of an ally her government is?

EU row sours Merkel’s Turkey trip

from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
An official visit to Turkey by Germany’s Chancellor Merkel is being overshadowed by spats over EU membership.

Why is Merkel coming to Turkey? by ALİ YURTTAGÜL

from Today’s Zaman, your gateway to Turkish daily news :: Op-Ed
Questioning the purpose of Chancellor Angela Merkel?s visit to Ankara is not a rhetorical approach; rather it stems from the visit?s background, which brings up interesting questions.

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Merkel continues to fantasize with privileged partnership…

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a press conference at the European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on March 26 in Brussels. Turkey on Saturday snubbed Merkel’s proposal for its “privileged partnership” with the EU, saying such a status was non-existent in the bloc it is trying to join. (AFP/File/Jean-Christophe Verhaegen) Merkel, Erdogan … Read more

EU decides to save Greece…

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MAIN FOCUS: Europe stands by Greece | 26/03/2010 from euro|topics The Eurogroup countries on Thursday evening agreed a rescue package for Greece that entails a mixture of bilateral loans and International Monetary Fund help. According to the press the plan demonstrates Europe’s will to overcome the crisis as a group, but also calls the monetary … Read more

Irish President tells Turks an anecdote of myth not fact and some Turks already know it…

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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_02TPdBEapnk/Sry-iGCZdnI/AAAAAAAAAK4/Xb7wveBvhCk/s320/drogheda_united_logo.png

A while ago, in a mailing list, a friend excitedly send Drogheda FC’s logo and told the story. Someone searched about it and found that was a myth. Now here comes again:

President tells Turks an anecdote of myth not fact

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Lisbon era starts in Europe while Merkel makes her historic US address…

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A roundup as usual… last updated: 14:30 (4 Nov)

Consensus growing for low-profile EU ‘chairman’

from EurActiv.com
Confirming that EU leaders appear to read the job description of the first-ever permanent Council president as more of a ‘chairman’ than a ‘leader’, agencies reported today (2 November) that the mild-mannered Belgian prime minister, Herman Van Rompuy, is the “most consensual” figure for the top job.

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If Sarkozy and Merkel are against Blair, maybe we should support him:)

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Merkel and Sarkozy unite to end Blair’s European dream

from EU-DIGEST by Turkish Digest

Europe, World – The Independent

“Merkel and Sarkozy unite to end Blair’s European dream

Former prime minister’s bid for EU presidency founders as continent’s most powerful leaders announce they would prefer candidate from smaller country

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Membership by 2015?

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That’s a Foreign Ministry hope or fantasy. I am not too pessimistic about the EU membership process but it is a bit early. Super-slowness is the rule and targetting 2015 is to fasten the process which could disorient all the parties:)
Ah well, while EU membership process is a little peripherialized in the current state of Turkish foreign policy making, still it makes news, still happenings. A huge roundup on related issues:
People gather under The Eiffel Tower, lighted in the colours ...

People gather under The Eiffel Tower, lighted in the colours of Turkey as part of events marking the “Season of Turkey in France”, in Paris October 6, 2009. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Turkish FM: ?Turkey seeks EU membership by 2015?

Turkey is counting on joining the European Union by 2015 to bolster both its and the EU?s global role, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on Friday. ?Even 2015 is too late, not only for us, it will be too late for the EU as well,? Davutoğlu said at the European Policy Centre in Brussels.

The Eiffel Tower is seen lighted in the colours of Turkey as ...

The Eiffel Tower is seen lighted in the colours of Turkey as part of events marking the ‘Season of Turkey in France’, in Paris October 6, 2009. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

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Turks may not have liked the German election results

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source: Hürriyet
source: Hürriyet

updated: 28 Sept 2009- 18:20

Turkish newspapers lament the results as triumphant center-right coalition means continuing obstacle to Turkey’s EU membership (see Hürriyet)

Victorious Merkel vows recovery

German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledges to focus on reviving Europe’s largest economy after winning a second term in office.
A good round up by Grahnlaw:

German elections and the European Union

by Grahnlaw

The German elections have caused a shift in the federal parliament Bundestag, and they will bring in a new government coalition (Bundesregierung). The conservative parties, the Christian Democratic CDU and the Bavarian CSU, suffered some vote losses, but remain the largest group by far.

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