is now in European Union ?

Not yet. Turkey still has to fulfil some requirements before it will be a full member

noone can answer me, maybe its too difficult question, I will let the blog delete itself in 5 mins.

???? I just DID answer you!!!!!!!!!

oh.. only few mins before my post.., sorry ja )

Anyway, thank you. Now I can go to next processes.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrr (skykick):evil:

(jump and kick back):twisted:

(dodges easily and laughs)

The newest female member is from Turkey...maybe she will chime in.

chai! I was thinking the same thing... If Iain doesn't scare her off (poor thing!)

chime?? what is she gonna do to me that?

(sighs and walks away study Turkish)

chime?? what is she gonna do to me that?

(sighs and walks away study Turkish)

Chime,,, that is what we hear whenever we hear the sound of your voice Kus!

Most of Turkey is not in Europe, and many EU countries against if Turkey join EU. The Dane will be upset, if Turkey is in EU.

Not yet. Turkey still has to fulfil some requirements before it will be a full member

Yeah! First of all, Turkey will have to be a European country!

But wait, isn't (South) Cyprus member of the EU, Israel playing in the European football championships and US and Azerbaidjan full members of OSCE? - Strange World!

Yeah! First of all' date=' Turkey will have to be a European country!

But wait, isn't (South) Cyprus member of the EU, Israel playing in the European football championships and US and Azerbaidjan full members of OSCE? - Strange World![/quote']

Well firstly, Turkey is Eurasian as some of it is in Europe and some (well most) in Asia.

Secondly, Turkey was one of the first non founding members to join the council of Europe way back in the 1940's. It actually IS an associate member of the EU (and has been since '63)

The process has now been ongoing since 2005 and may take anything from 8/9 to 15 years to complete as there are lots of issues for Turkey to solve, as well as some opposition from some EU members (though surprisingly Nicky; Denmark is not mentioned in opposition) A lot of the opposition is based on historical reasons (step forward Austria) and more current ethnic reasons (take a bow France) so it remains to be seen whether they will get full membership. (any admission has to be unanimous)

Would it be a good thing?

Hard to say given the current fragile state of the eurozone. If they show sense and ditch the euro, or if Turkey retains its own currency, then yes, imo, it would be a good thing, even if just on the basis of its strategic/geographical position.

Are there a lot of bridges to cross first? Hundreds. I could even see the time span I mentioned being longer, but Turkey getting privileged partner status in the interim period.

Most of Turkey is not in Europe, and many EU countries against if Turkey join EU. The Dane will be upset, if Turkey is in EU.

Actually, most EU countries support it, and it is certainly an aim of EU ministers.

Main opponents are France, Germany and Austria.

Well firstly' date=' Turkey is Eurasian as some of it is in Europe and some (well most) in Asia.

Secondly, Turkey was one of the first non founding members to join the council of Europe way back in the 1940's. It actually IS an associate member of the EU (and has been since '63)

The process has now been ongoing since 2005 and may take anything from 8/9 to 15 years to complete as there are lots of issues for Turkey to solve, as well as some opposition from some EU members (though surprisingly Nicky; Denmark is not mentioned in opposition) A lot of the opposition is based on historical reasons (step forward Austria) and more current ethnic reasons (take a bow France) so it remains to be seen whether they will get full membership. (any admission has to be unanimous)

Would it be a good thing?

Hard to say given the current fragile state of the eurozone. If they show sense and ditch the euro, or if Turkey retains its own currency, then yes, imo, it would be a good thing, even if just on the basis of its strategic/geographical position.

Are there a lot of bridges to cross first? Hundreds. I could even see the time span I mentioned being longer, but Turkey getting privileged partner status in the interim period.[/quote']

Nothing against Turkey's current status quo towards the EU. But one of the main points of those in favour of full membership is the "market of 70 million people". Well, those guys obviously haven't looked into the real economic situation of Turkish people. Markets for Europe only could be developped for several millions as the rest is living in conditions that never will allow them to participate.

IMO, EU first should concentrate of getting European countries in the boat - a hard way, though, if you look at countries like Serbia or Albania (well, Greece already is but we all know what the outcome was....).

Concerning the currency question, I fully agree. Well, also other countries (like Greece, Italy and Portugal) never should have been allowed into the Euro zone as they cheated and everybody knew that beforehand. EU does not (yet) necessarily mean having a common currency.

Your allegation of Austria's opposition being based on historical reasons is wrong (The Austrian Empire has been an ally of the Ottoman Empire in WWI, and even the far better one than Germany, if you read historical sources). The opposition just derives from the fact WHO is immigrating, and those to a very high percentage are not the best ones. Turkish mid- and upper-class immigrants in Austria are even ashamed of the majority of countymen you can find here (very similar to Germany). There is a big difference if you come here from Istanbul or from a village in Eastern Anatolia, and everyone can feel that.

And finally, having retained 3% of its territory on the European continent does not make Turkey a Eurasian country. As well as, if boundaries after WWI would have been drawn in favour of Greece, Greece would not be a Eurasian country.

Well it IS regarded by all (except you) as a Eurasian country (and is closer to 5% of territory and 12% of population). Agree that the possible economic migration is a major sticking point for many, but accession would bring some slight economic benefits to the whole EU. The big advantage would be the possible onward stability in other Muslim countries by a stable and secular Turkey within the EU.

Well it IS regarded by all (except you) as a Eurasian country (and is closer to 5% of territory and 12% of population). Agree that the possible economic migration is a major sticking point for many, but accession would bring some slight economic benefits to the whole EU. The big advantage would be the possible onward stability in other Muslim countries by a stable and secular Turkey within the EU.

Unfortunately, the secular status of Turkey is in jeopardy if you listen to Recep Erdogan. Therefore, it would be better to concentrate on Balkan countries like Bosnia, Albania and - if you see it as a country - Kosovo, where a secular and tolerant islam for centuries used to be the buffer zone against more strict variants.

And 23,623km2 in Europe vs. 815,578km2 in total sums up to 2.9%, not more! So with the same right, I could say that noone (but you) regards Turkey as a Eurasian country....

Unfortunately' date=' the secular status of Turkey is in jeopardy if you listen to Recep Erdogan. Therefore, it would be better to concentrate on Balkan countries like Bosnia, Albania and - if you see it as a country - Kosovo, where a secular and tolerant islam for centuries used to be the buffer zone against more strict variants.

And 23,623km2 in Europe vs. 815,578km2 in total sums up to 2.9%, not more! So with the same right, I could say that noone (but you) regards Turkey as a Eurasian country....[/quote']

Okay then, you go ad check ANY internet site pertaining to Turkey and/or Eurasia. Because EVERY single one defines Turkey as Eurasian. Once again, you fail.

And strictly speaking, we are both Eurasian as the basic definition of 'Eurasia' is ... a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia.

Fail 2.0

And strictly speaking' date=' we are both Eurasian as the basic definition of 'Eurasia' is ...[b'] a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia.

Fail 2.0

Actually, it was not me drawing the historical(?) boundary between Asia and Europe at the Ural.....

...the historical(?) boundary between Asia and Europe at the Ural.....

river or mountain?

The Urals have only really marked the boundary for under 300 years...

In REAL historical terms, the boundary was much further east...

The Urals have only really marked the boundary for under 300 years...

In REAL historical terms' date=' the boundary was much further east...[/quote']

By which sources?

talk about bridges crossed.... ditching the Euro?? (are you talking about just Turkey? or current Eurozone members?) for those already on the Euro -- I don't think you can get that "cat back into the bag" Iain. talk about chaos -- re-setting every countyies currency --- yikes! But if only Turkey, yup the current conditions would serve a sternwarning about going to the Euro

Admin....should move this to the forum???? bigger audience; not to high-jack it Kus....:oops: