Cyprus-Forum.com

[Me Ed]

David Cameron has promised to "fight" for Turkey's membership of the European Union, saying he is "angry" at the slow pace of negotiations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10767768

However, its well known and widely commentated on that whilst the UK leadership wants Turkey in the EU, UK does not want Turks in the UK.

[turkkan]

UK does not want turks in the UK? Widely known? Have you actually ever been to london? Do you know how many turks are accepted each year via the ankara agreement? For a country that does not want turks it sure is accepting a lot of them.

[Me Ed]

Yes there are a lot of Turks in the UK particularly in north London.

Those are not my words, I was just highlighting what a lot of political commentators (particularly those for Turkey) state on the television when Turkey and the EU is discussed.

Its a comment that's made to highlight that if Turkey joins the EU, granting Turkish citizens uncontrolled freedom of movement into the UK as EU citizens is highly unlikely.

[humanist]

I wonder why there was no mention to Cyprus and that EU needs to see withdrawl of Turkish troops from its territory before it can accept Turkey's entry into the bloc. Interesting politics ..... I do agree with comments around movement of people, if the public is just as well off in Turkey as in France for example they wouldn't need to move, some may but the majority would stay. Same with religion I think he covered that point well.

[bigOz]

Yes there are a lot of Turks in the UK particularly in north London.

Those are not my words, I was just highlighting what a lot of political commentators (particularly those for Turkey) state on the television when Turkey and the EU is discussed.

Its a comment that's made to highlight that if Turkey joins the EU, granting Turkish citizens uncontrolled freedom of movement into the UK as EU citizens is highly unlikely.

Most of the "Turks" in London, are ethnic Turkish Cypriots - thare are more in UK than in Cyprus, in fact! Most of the so called mainland Turks are in fact ethnic Kurdish Turks (many even from N. Iraq - claiming to be from Turkey) who were/are given political assylum. When arrested for tons of heroin importation, they address themselves and are addressed by the media as "Turks". BUT! When seeking residence they conveniently become "Kurds".

So, I personally do not believe there are many Turkish migrants flowing into UK, because those who want to come from their village and sell few kilos of heroin to open a huge grocery shop in North London in less than a year are all granted their stay anyway! Problem with Kurds is; when you allow a family of 3 to stay, their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters (usually at least a dozen), uncles, cousins etc. all jump in to live as illegal immigrants in a house built for 3 or 4! Something currently we also are suffering from in the North...

[Oracle]

David Cameron has promised to "fight" for Turkey's membership of the European Union, saying he is "angry" at the slow pace of negotiations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10767768

However, its well known and widely commentated on that whilst the UK leadership wants Turkey in the EU, UK does not want Turks in the UK.

They just want Turkey to help them win the "east" and don't know how to do it except with the continuing carrot of the EU -- something Cameron and his cronies wouldn't mind seeing disbanded altogether -- so he has nothing to lose.

Still, taken in the context of some of his other utterances, I do think he genuinely believes Turkey has to be more strident in making good their mistakes:

"Its refusal to recognise EU member Cyprus, growing support for pro-Islamic parties on the mainland and the treatment of the Kurdish minority in the country all remain potential stumbling blocks."

[bigOz]

Who gives a shite! Just another example of why EU needs Turkey more than Turkey needs them (economically or militarily).

Has anyone asked the Turkish public what they want? I assure you, if there was a referandum in Turkey today - majority would wote "No!" to EU. A lot of friggin good its done to Greece and Cyprus South! EU just needs a military power like Turkey to help them out with Afganistan, Iraq, and Iran. They wished...

I can understand Mr Cameron's pain. He is clearly very clever and can see further than most other EU leaders, but I doubt anything can help the sick EU in a foreseeable future. If they are good to Turkey, and stop supporting the PKK terrorists, they may use their islamic influence to bring peace to Iran and Afghanistan - even to Iraq.

[Me Ed]

Has anyone asked the Turkish public want they want? No to the EU.

Has anyone asked the UK public what they want? If there was a referendum in the UK today, the majority would vote "No" to Turkey.

So one can conclude that both Turkish and UK citizens are in agreement when it comes to Turkey and the EU.

One hopes that the leaders of the respective countries respect the wishes of its citizens.

[Gasman]

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 27 July 2010 13.43 BST

In a passionate defence of Turkey, the prime minister accused Paris and Berlin of double standards for expecting Ankara to guard Europe's borders as a Nato member while closing the door to EU membership.

"When I think about what Turkey has done to defend Europe as a Nato ally ... I believe it's just wrong to say Turkey can guard the camp but not be allowed to sit inside the tent."

His tough language reflects Britain's frustration that Ankara's EU membership negotiations have stalled since they were formally opened in 2005. Turkey's involvement in the Cyprus dispute and its refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot goods are holding up the talks.

Cameron also said Turkey should use its links with Iran to persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

Turkey is to abide by new UN sanctions, agreed last month, which are focused on individuals and companies linked to Iran's nuclear and missile programmes. But it will not implement wider US and EU restrictions on banks, and wants to deepen trade links with Iran.

The prime minister said Turkey's special place, as a bridge between east and west, gave it a key role with Iran. "It's Turkey that can help us stop Iran from getting the bomb," he said.

[Gasman]

Cameron 'anger' at slow pace of Turkish EU negotiations
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10767768

David Cameron: UK will do everything it can to help Turkey "pave the road from Ankara to Brussels"

David Cameron has promised to "fight" for Turkey's membership of the European Union, saying he is "angry" at the slow pace of negotiations.

On his first visit as prime minister, he said the country could become a "great European power", helping build links with the Middle East.

He compared hostility to the membership bid in some parts of the EU with the way the UK's entry was once regarded.

After his visit to Turkey, Mr Cameron will travel on to India.

He will be joined by a host of British business leaders as he seeks to boost trade links with one of the world's fastest growing economies.

Mr Cameron was expected to agree a new strategic partnership with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during his visit.
'Frustrating progress'

In a speech at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, Mr Cameron said he wanted to "pave the road" for Turkey to join the EU, saying the country was "vital for our economy, vital for our security and vital for our diplomacy".

A European Union without Turkey at its heart was "not stronger but weaker... not more secure but less... not richer but poorer".