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THE EU’S FOREIGN policy chief Catherine Ashton has urged Turkey’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to abide by European democratic standards – as Germany and Italy warned that a violent crackdown on protesters could harm Turkey’s bid for membership of the European Union.
Delivering her first public statement on Turkey’s troubles in a speech to the European Parliament, Ashton said Erdogan’s response with protesters must be “engagement not antagonism.”
“This is an important moment for Turkey. A chance for it to renew its commitment to European values,” she said. “I am convinced it can meet this challenge.”
Recalling that EU ministers are to decide this month whether to open a new chapter for the first time in several years in Ankara’s stalled bid for membership, Ashton said: “Turkey as a candidate country needs to aspire to the highest possible democratic practices.”
Of the 35 so-called ‘policy chapters’ EU candidates must negotiate, Turkey has opened talks on only 13.
The European Union must not pull back from Turkey despite concerns over Erdogan’s handling of the protests, Ashton said.
“This is not the moment to disengage from Turkey but to engage more closely. And for Turkey to engage more closely with the EU too.”
Turkey’s efforts to join the EU formally started in 2005 but are snagged due to human rights concerns and the row over Cyprus, whose northern third is occupied by a republic recognised only by Turkey.
In Germany, foreign minister Guido Westerwelle said images of demonstrators being chased down by riot police in Istanbul were “disturbing” and sent the “wrong message” to EU nations.
“The Turkish government is sending the wrong message to the country and to Europe with its response to date to the protests,” he said, adding that Ankara must do “all in its power” to protect democratic rights.
“We expect Prime Minister Erdogan to de-escalate the situation in the spirit of European values and initiate constructive communication and peaceful dialogue.”
A German foreign ministry source meanwhile said it was unlikely Turkey’s EU talks could enter the next stage soon.
“That will probably not be possible,” the source said, adding that there were still “considerable doubts”.
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There’s probably quite a few EU Governments are already reluctant about letting in Turkey, this could be a great excuse for them to deny them/put them on the very long finger.
her face would not look out of place in goebbels nazi germany.
After Turkey, Iran will join the EU!?
Turkish regime is the worst regime!
They’ll let anyone one in…..a secondhand shop for a failing currency and poverty stricken countries. All hail the EUSSR!
Just what we need. 20 million more muslims to add to the radicals already in europe
75 million
Inviting Turkey is madness.
Go and F yourself Paul Doyle
Yeah Paul cause all Muslims are radicals u brainwashed puppet.
That should have been muppet.
How about your membership is in jeopardy for being the country to jail the most journalists.
How about your membership is in jeopardy for training, arming and financing Al Qaeda terrorists(Al Nusra) and sending them into Syria to cause mayhem.
How about your membership is in jeopardy for taking hundreds of millions of dollars worth of loans from Saudi Arabia and allowing that country to exert undue influence over Turkeys nationalist policies.
Well said and they need to get out of Cyprus too.
The part about training Al-Qaeda will get them honorary membership but everything else is spot on.
Hey Westerwelle how about images of Greek, Italian or Spanish EU citizens being chased by riot police do they not matter? Hypocrite.
Have a look what’s happening in London right now, people arrested in case they might be thinking about protesting.
“”About Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, [Assad said that] he’s an emotional man who displayed a great deal of love towards him (Assad) and towards his children and members of his family. However, he leans towards the Muslim Brotherhood, and the interest of [this movement] take precedence for him over his warm feelings towards [Assad], and even over Turkish and Syrian interests….”
Sa’ud Qbeilat
I can’t see how the influence of the muslim brotherhood would benefit Europe.
The cheek of the eu. Its not as if riot police aren’t involved in daily suppression of Greek protesters/ democracy. Not 2mention riots in recent policing of the blockupy protests in Frankfurt, and in spain. Nope the eu is far more “democratic than dat”.
The eu would never simply ignore the wishes of millions of citizens. . Oh wait
Doubt France will ever let Turkey join the EU regardless.
We can only hope so. Though there are many that absolutely salivate at the wage collapsing power of having 80 million Turks come in.
A Libertarian wet dream.
its alrite for the greeks, italians and spanish to beat the crap out of there citizens via riot cops cos there only protesting about little old austerity and sure thats not as big as whats going on in turkey. The EU of double standards it may not be as bad as the turkish or syrian governments but they wield the same type of power and would love the same control
Turkey should never be allowed to join the european union, it would be the beginning of the end
About time…. @EU
Catherine Ashton The EUSSR “foreign policy” chief.Can someone please tell me who elected her?
”Can someone please tell me who elected her?”
Answer – No-one . She is in fact Baroness Ashton – made so by Blair .
Don’t want Turkey in the EU ever. Most of the nation’s people never try to integrate wherever they go to live. They will make Europe like in some parts of Germany and Austria… Hope it never comes to the day when they join.. They system and thinking is way behind European standards.
This is total hypocrisy on Baroness Ashtons part – considering the Response of UK and other EU goverments to protests – which were much same as ukish ones -ie Total Police brutality .
but police brutality is ok against protestrs in UK but she lectures Turkey !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-
——–will go down well with potentail UKIP voters .
she wants turkey to conform to Eouropean values – ie rob their own people and give to the Rich – and the German foreign minister joins in with the hypocritical chants .
They have not the guts to say they do not want a Moslem country into a so called ” christian c lub ”- a club that no country with a few bob would want to join anyway .
.
Turkey would destroy the EU even further. What do you want the whole of the Arab nations to join too? Naivety is astounding.
Turkey has a good economy – and is a democracy .
In waht way would Turkey destroy EU . At least its citizens have the guts to protest – in large numbers – mainly about the Neoliberal Economics that is bringing inequality to the country – as it has here – but with little protest .
Aare u afraid of diversity ??
Taken from znet
”Although the Western media present the Turkish Uprising of May 27 only as a rebellion against lack of democracy, nothing can be farther from truth. No doubt this is a rebellion against lack of democracy, voice and representation. But it is also a rebellion against rising inequality, unemployment and the private provision of basic needs as well as against the energy, ecological and food crises and the climate change.”
fullarticle http://www.zcommunications.org/chapuling-in-turkey-the-turkish-uprising-of-may-27-2013-by-t-sabri-nc
PS .
”What do you want the whole of the Arab nations to join too?’
Turkey is at crossroads of EU and Asia – and could join . Are you aware that most Arab countries are in Africa and Middle east ???.
Naivety is astounding- yes your – or perhaps your fear ?
Turkey has no place in the E.U
We have enough people who thrash their own areas in the EU already.
Any excuse to refuse Turkey membership. The EU have been making Turkey jump through hoops for the past 40years, a disgrace that they are not a member at this stage when they take in countries poor Eastern European countries.
Are you completely nuts?
@ Billy. Eastern European countries accepted into the European Union, I think there’s a bit of clue there. Turkey is mainly in Asia.
It’ll take a continental shift
I am in Istanbul at the moment. It’s neighbours against neighbour now.
He has split the country. One half of the apartment block banged pots to show support for the protesters at 9 last night, this angered the religious lot so they started to chat some religious words. . .It got very uncomfortable . . And it is not going away.
Bloody Sunday didn’t see the UK prevented from joining Europe. Beating civil rights protesters off the streets didn’t either. Double standards?
Turkey in Europe now there is a scary thought Islam Will throttle democracy where ever it can. So turkey in Europe no if you value personal freedom.
Turkey has a decent secular tradition. Growing economy. Strong ties to Europe for centuries. The main threat to Turkish democracy has historically come from the military (the deep state) rather than Islam. That might change but I think its dangerous to assume that Muslims=undemocratic citizens. Would you block Albania’s EU bid because of their Islamic traditions? There are good arguments for not letting Turkey into the EU at the moment but I think their membership bid should be taken seriously and treated fairly. They have been applying for a while.
”Islam Will throttle democracy”
how can it throttle waht does not exist ??– I think Neo liberalism has done a good job on throttling waht shreds are left of democracy
Right. They were just about to get it and now this
have your say