Turkey’s EU bid meets another roadblock (BIG mistake!)

[Dover]

Apr 16, 2010 08:26 EDT

Negotiating Turkey’s accession to the European Union hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. But it may be about to get tougher still.

Europeans are already divided over the prospect of inviting a largely Muslim nation into their club of 27 states. And while some are attracted by Turkey’s huge economic potential, that’s frequently shadowed by its much-criticised human rights record.

As a result, Ankara’s membership negotiations with Brussels have, perhaps predictably, been slow.

Now a presidential election in northern Cyprus, a sliver of land only twice the size of London, is threatening to wreck any chance of a serious revival in those talks for years.

If opinion polls prove correct, hardline right-wing candidate Dervis Eroglu will oust incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat in the vote this Sunday. Reunification talks between the province, recognised as a state only by Ankara, and the rest of Cyprus could grind to a halt under Eroglu’s leadership.

..snip..

But the EU is in a bind. It wants to keep Turkey engaged because Ankara’s clout on the global stage is growing. With a population of 70 million and a location on the globe that makes it a cultural and trade crossroads, Turkey is a resurgent economic and geopolitical power...cont'd

http://blogs.reuters.com/global/2010/04/16/turkeys-eu-bid-meets-another-cyprus-roadblock/




I think the EU is going to regret not bringing Turkey into the fold...
So many pressures on Turkey from without and within that I don't think they'll be able to maintain
their "neutrality" for much longer and will have to take sides at some point. And then I suspect
all hell will break loose in the region.

[bemildred]

1. Well, you notice who is in the catbird seat now, and it ain't the EU. nt