Expensive FriendshipsOct 13th, 2007 - 09:13:03

How expensive is it to be a friend and ally with the Turkey of today?

First of all you have to deny the genocide of 1910's, not even to discreetly place it in history books - you are not allowed to say it at all - in the fear of offending Turkishness and being brought to trial under the article 301 - of course if you are Turkish. And for those outside, such as the French, Israel and now the Americans, Turkey will cause a diplomatic row, so that its wrath can be felt in other ways.

And this is the same Turkey that wishes to be a part of the European Union. That doesn't want special partner status, but feels that it has the right to and deserves full accession into the EU.

Can EU parliamentarians afford to over look Turkey's belligerence? How will the EU deal with a Turkey that perhaps only wishes to join the EU, to up its importance in the world and to repair its broken economy (2/3 population rural farmers, with high illiteracy rates for women) something that Europe or the West had no part in – but on inclusion will be expected to pay for.

How will Europe deal with Turkey's efforts to Islamize itself, against the wishes of the secular military - once the gates are flung open and Turkish poor, illiterate and highly religious flood into Europe without control. Those in Istanbul are very different from those in the countryside, where if these people were allowed into Europe - Sharia law would be expected. What a juggling act that would be.

Possibly it is true that Turkey remembers how powerful it was under the Ottoman Empire and more than EU accession - desires its rise again. Europe could be letting itself in for a handful - in a Turkey that cares more about its greatness - than in the wider European family of governance. EU accession could be used as a stepping stone - for a more Islamic Turkey that has ambitions to be a world power.

With Turkey the chess moves are in the future and so we must take a clear look at what is happening now.

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KeithOct 14th, 2007 - 04:54:40

So what happened to the 1.5 million Armenian's?? Did they fall off down the stairs at the station?? (or more likely fell over the Ottoman!)

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So What!Oct 14th, 2007 - 16:06:43

It doesn't matter what people in the EU or Yankee Doodle Land or Ozzy Land think anymore, as they are beyond reason. The Vote was correct, it was genocide and Turkey has to reconcile itself with being a major part of it.
But Turkey is better off being closely allied to its true friend and Neighbour Iran, which is exactly what is really going on. Turkey is tieing itself to Iran through recent ground breaking deals and cooperation, these two forces will together help to make the ME stand strong against all those arrogant westerners and Imperialists, the ones that call themselves 'Civilised' yet disregard the murder of Children by western forces on an almost daily basis. Good for Turkey to turn its back on the backward and ignorrant.

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MuratOct 14th, 2007 - 17:02:14

Here we go again some special interest groups and lobbyist are
destroying long relations with a major Nato member.
When the cold war was going on where was the lobbyist?
Turkey was always there for US even in the Korean war.
I say let the historians from both sides
evaluate if it was genocide or not.
Not special interest groups or lobbyist.Thank you

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Democratic Diplomacy?Oct 15th, 2007 - 23:06:56

Ya know how democrats always used to say that if they were in charge they would be able to use negotiation and diplomacy to smooth over international relations and restore the worlds love and admiration for the USA? Is this is an indication of Democrat diplomacy? Very smooth!

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KathyOct 16th, 2007 - 20:26:49

Pelosi's waiting for a word from Bush. Silence. The hope was that Bush would have a fit and the dems could pontificate for at least a week about how he and all republicans condone genocide. Silence...maybe he's not so dumb huh?

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modaJan 1st, 2008 - 02:34:00

Turkey has called for an investigation of its Ottoman archives along with those of Armenia and Britain,France and U.S.regarding the events which occurred in Eastern Anotolia between Turks and Armenians.Turkey has had their archives opened since the 1980's and have repeatedly asked Armenia to go for a joint commission to have all their Ottoman documents studied and examined by Historians and legal experts.Armenia has rejected these offers,stating that genocide has been proven politically and that the Armenian Genocide is now undisputable.The Armenian Diaspora has claimed that the events of 1915 were similar to the Jewish Holocaust and claims to be the first genocide of the century.Even though, there has never been a legitimate document which supports these claims,and every 'document' that has been presented by the Diaspora has been proven falsified or forged, and even though the United Nations has never supported nor accepted the Armenian genocide allegations,Armenia has insisted on keeping their archives a secret behing locked doors and refuses to have these events determined in an International Court of law as the Holocaust was determined a genocide in the Nuremberg Trials.
There is evidence in the archives documenting the massacres of almost 600,000 Ottoman Turks by the Armenian Revolutionaries during the years from 1885 to 1920.These are facts which are never brought forth by Armenians nor the Diaspora. It is time for these two countries to end this dispute for once and for all, especially since Turkey has pledged it would accept whatever determination is made by legal means.

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