Cyprus-Forum.com

[Greek Cypriot]

Some Turkish Cypriots are very optimistic that Turkey will enter the EU soon. I really don't understand where they base this optimism.

Turkey applied for EU membership in 1963 but accession talks have not started yet.

The reasons are many: human right violations, economic standards etc. You can say that Turkey will improve in all aspects, meet all criteria etc. However, you forget something. This Union is called European Union. It’s a union for Europeans. Being a European is a cultural and historical thing. If the Chinese decide at some point to start using Latin alphabet this will not make them Europeans.

EU needs Turkey to be close, but not too close. Therefore Turkey will never achieve a full member status.

http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=14339

[PEACE]

Being a European is a cultural and historical thing. If the Chinese decide at some point to start using Latin alphabet this will not make them Europeans.

What makes Cyprus to be European?? It hasn't got any soil in Europe! But Turkey has !

Turkey applied for EU membership in 1963 but accession talks have not started yet.

I beleive they are just wanting to enter to EU in speech! I'm trusting to new goverment ! They improved so much!

[metecyp]

EU needs Turkey to be close, but not too close. Therefore Turkey will never achieve a full member status.

As a T/C, I also have serious doubts about Turkey's accession to EU but I think it's a possibility if Turkey is willing to go through a major reformation process.

What I want to point out is different though. As a G/C, you should be the one supporting the entry of Turkey into EU. A European Turkey is going to affect the whole region. It's going to affect the relations between Greece and Turkey which will definetely have some positive effects in Cyprus.

Your dream of a solution based on full democracy and full human rights might only be possible if Turkey enters EU. In that case, all of Turks, Greeks, T/Cs, G/Cs will be European citizens, and then full democracy will be more feasible.

So you should reconsider what you're wishing for, for your own sake, not mine.

[Guest]

Geographically you can put Cyprus wherever you want. There is no defined border in the mediterranean to split Europe from Asia.(no Urals here).
The most important though is our culture. The majority of this island are Greeks, and Greece is the first European country (even the world "Europe" comes from Greek mythology).

Metecyp,
I said that Turkey will never enter the EU because Peace argued that Turkish troups will leave Cyprus when Turkey enters the EU. I am just trying to say that this is equal to "never" since Turkey will neven enter the EU.

[metecyp]

The most important though is our culture. The majority of this island are Greeks, and Greece is the first European country

You're comparing apples and oranges. Culture is NOT an entrance requirement to EU. Political structure, human rights, democracy, free-speech, a stable economy, etc. are criteria that are used to judge if a country is ready to enter EU.

Therefore, if Turkey reforms itself to catch European standards of economy, human rights, etc. nobody can deny Turkey's entrance by saying "Turkish culture is not European" EU is not a cultural organization, it actually started from economic interests.

So, yes, Turkey is quite far from EU right now, but it is never impossible.

[Guest]

Culture is NOT an entrance requirement to EU. Political structure, human rights, democracy, free-speech, a stable economy, etc. are criteria that are used to judge if a country is ready to enter EU.

Culture also plays a role. Have you heard of parties in Europe called "Christian ...." (big parties). Why do you think they have that in their names?
EU now is very concerned with illigal immigrants and many far right parties gather a lot of votes because they support that illigal immigrants should go, not only because of economical reasons but also because they change the social and cultural structure of their countries.
Do you know what it means to let Turkey with a population that soon will be the largest of all other EU countries to enter the EU? Germany that has a lot of Turks got a bitter taste what that means, thats why they react like that.

Anyways. You can believe whatever you want, but Turkey entering the EU is nothing but a dream.

[PEACE]

Geographically you can put Cyprus wherever you want. There is no defined border in the mediterranean to split Europe from Asia.(no Urals here).

I admire your thinking style and explaining my friend!
Ok if we can put Cyprus wherever we want we can put it into Turkey? Or Greece?There is no Urals here!

The most important though is our culture. The majority of this island are Greeks, and Greece is the first European country

No it is not ! Soil is a criteria also! If you look EU's criterias about "European country" you will see.

Culture... Greek's culture is European and Turkish ones' not? Haha...

Culture also plays a role. Have you heard of parties in Europe called "Christian ...." (big parties). Why do you think they have that in their names?

Its a small group.EU is NOT an Christian union! Where it says its christian?
If so EU violates its rules ! This is racialism!

Turkey entering the EU is nothing but a dream

No comment ! Wait and see !

[Greek Cypriot]

Culture... Greek's culture is European and Turkish ones' not? Haha...

Greece has one of the biggest civilizations ever existed with philosophers, mathematicians, and a ton of other scientists still taught at schools and universities all over the world. Greek civilization is the first European civilization and this is not something said by us, but by the whole world. Greek alphabet is the first alphabet, from which the Latin alphabet was derived. Democracy, a main part of the western civilization is "made in Greece"

I agree only with one part of your post:



Because comparing Greek civilization with the Turkish "civilization" is really something very funny

[metecyp]

You don't have to spend time explaining how great of a civilization is ancient Greek civilization. I've read many Greek philosophers and I respect their ideas, especially considering that they came up with these ideas 2000 years ago.

Unfortunately, that ancient culture is not what the culture is in modern Greece right now, and don't deny it! Tell me one modern day Greek philosopher in this century or last century that shaped the European way of thinking. You can't!

[PEACE]

Yea Greece improved so much in a little time! But remember 1970s situation of Greece!