At first one assumes Turkey is being held back from entry into the European Union for economic or political reasons. For example, The European Parliament back in 2004 reported that Turkey is not yet ready to start EU membership talks because of continued influence of the army in politics, the continuing torture practices and the discrimination of religious minorities. On 1 Apr 2007, the EU Parliament concluded that Turkey still does not yet meet the Copenhagen political criteria for EU membership. And as of last week France has erected roadblocks that irritate Turkey. But what are the real reasons holding back Turkey's accession to EU membership?
Here are the first 12: [Click twice on the image the first time, then only once to walk through the photo gallery]
OK, so some of the images are not of Turkey, but it's the sentiment that counts. Now the 13th and last image below is also not from Turkey, but here is the problem: According to the Maastricht treaty everyone who is a citizen of a member country is granted a work permit in every member country. An exception is for citizens of the "new" countries added to the union in 2004 and 2007. Most of these citizens are not allowed to work in some countries like Germany and France except with special permit. But this is a temporary restriction for 7 years from the year the country entered the EU. [Source: Wiki] That means that 7 years after Turkey enters the EU, Muslim Rageboy can enter any EU country and work there.
It happens that Rageboy is really from Srinagar, India, but does anyone believe he will have trouble getting to Turkey? And 7 years after Turkey is in the EU, this gentle soul can work in any European Union country. Sadly, idiots in the US are pushing to have Turkey admitted into the EU. [Click on Rageboy image to see more of him at other demonstrations]
Related:
Open Democracy,
5 Apr 2007,
Turkey divided: politics, faith and democracyA convulsive crisis is gripping Turkey. At stake is not just the choice of the next president or even the future political direction of the country, but the fundamental identity of the Turkish state and society. How this crisis is resolved will determine the evolution of this pivotal nation for years to come, and will - whatever the outcome - have repercussions far beyond Turkey's borders.
...
The current conflict has its deeper roots in the late Ottoman period when a group of highly educated modernisers identified popular traditions and Islamic practices as the cause of their society's backwardness. Their vision of secularism - more strictly, laicism - entailed not only separation between state and religion, but more importantly strict restrictions on public expressions of Islamic identity and the state's control over Islamic organisations. They consolidated their rule with the establishment of the Turkish republic in 1923 and engaged in an ambitious modernisation project.
Unfortunately the EU already has more than 20 million Muslims. That translates to 19.9 million timebombs because not every Muslim is an improvised explosive device.
Timeline of Turkey's Accession Efforts: EU Project
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