Title: Why Bulgaria Outran Turkey on Their Way to EU
saladin - August 20, 2006 04:19 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
Why Bulgaria Outran Turkey on Their Way to EU Can Karpat, AIA Balkan Section Bulgaria is preparing to join the EU by the beginning of 2007. For a country that only 15 years ago was still a “People’s republic”, Bulgaria has made remarkable progress. On the other hand, Turkey, which desperately longs for the EU membership for over 45 years now, is once again left behind. After Greece, Turkey will see another Western neighbour off to the Union. And this time it is worse - a neighbouring and a former communist country outruns Turkey, the most loyal member of the Western bloc during the Cold War… Turkey: “Stepchild of Europe”  Mahmut Celal Bayar (photo: Titos home page) Mahmut Celal Bayar The scene is set in the residence of the President of the Turkish Republic in Ankara, on 11th August 1959. The recent application of Turkey for the European Economic Community membership was being discussed between the then President Mahmut Celal Bayar, his Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and the members of the cabinet. Just one MP wanted to criticise and express his worries about this rather rashly taken decision, only to be interrupted by the furious Premier, who told him: “What then? While the Greeks join the European community, we cannot just sit and watch. What would it be then that they can succeed and we cannot?” Greece joined the EU in 1981. Turkey, though officially a candidate country at last in 2005, still stagnates. Worse still, another of its neighbours is preparing to join the European club by the beginning of 2007. For Turkey, Bulgaria’s accession to the EU is “worse” for two reasons: one historic, the other geographic. The historic reason is that Bulgaria was part of the Eastern communist bloc. However, in May 2004 many other former socialist republics joined the Union. Here precisely interferes the geographic factor: Bulgaria is the neighbour of Turkey. Turkey, which was at the “right side” during the Cold War, is upset to see that now its loyalty does not mean anything to its European allies. As the French historian Marc Ferro put it on the eve of the accession of the Tens in 2004: “Turkey was a buffer zone between Europe and the Soviet Union. Now the Cold War is over. Well, thanks and so long!” When the Turkish guest of the TV programme, extremely outraged by this remark, protested, Ferro calmly answered: “Well, it’s what we call Realpolitik”. The admission of the formerly communist Western Balkans to the EU and their “rehabilitation” through that way was the dream of the French politician and “father of Europe”, Robert Schuman. In this regard, between 2010 and 2015 Croatia, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia will all be EU members. As to Turkey, its way may be even longer than theirs. What is it then that first the Greeks, later the Bulgarians -the two western neighbours of Turkey- “succeed, and Turkey cannot”? Bulgaria: 26th member of the EU  EU members and candidates map (image: World Security Network) EU members and candidates map (click for enlarge) Bulgaria established diplomatic relations with the EU as early as 1988. In 1995, the country applied for full membership. Accession negotiations, which started in February 2000, ended in June 2004, six months ahead of schedule. Bulgaria, which signed the accession treaty in April 2005, is expected to join the EU on 1st January 2007, provided that the country addresses a number of outstanding issues. Since 1995, Bulgaria has achieved great progress. Since 2003, the country is considered as a functioning market economy. At the political level, Bulgaria is a democratic and stable country. Still, Bulgaria has to implement further reforms in fields of judicial and administrative structures, organised crime (including the trafficking of people) and high-level corruption. The agreement between Sofia and the Brussels reached in June 2004 includes a “safeguard clause”, which allows for the postponement of Bulgaria's accession by one year if the EU sees a “serious risk” of the country being unable to implement the required reforms. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn is firm about this point: “If serious concerns remain, we will not hesitate to use the safeguards we have at our disposal”. However, Bulgaria is not expected to stumble on its way to the full EU membership in 2007. True that European Commission’s monitoring report of May 2006 enumerates many deficiencies in different political and economic fields. However, some of them are relatively easy to meet and others require just good faith from the Bulgarian government. Since the economic downturn in 1996, which caused the fall of the then Socialist government, Bulgaria proved to be a macro-economically stable country. Although the unemployment rate remains relatively high (11.5 percent in 2005), low inflation and the implementation of structural reforms improve the business environment. The main problem for the country is its bad image in the European press. This also hinders Bulgaria from attracting more foreign direct investment. Moreover, the “enlargement exhaustion” of the EU may cause a serious headache for Bulgaria in October this year when the Commission is scheduled to review Bulgaria's accession status and decide whether the accession date can be maintained. However, unlike Romania, the European Council has to vote unanimously for the postponement of Bulgaria’s accession by one year. This gives an undeniable advantage to Bulgaria. The European Council’s review is scheduled for early October. On the other hand, Bulgaria will hold presidential election on 22nd October. The current President Georgi Parvanov from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the leading presidential candidate according to polls is expected to be re-elected. In this regard, the year 2007 will probably be the year of BSP led by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev. Some are more equal than others It is true that Bulgaria has made remarkable progress for a country that only 15 years ago was still a “People’s republic”. And the Bulgarians showed great determination on their way to Europe. Indeed there are things that Bulgaria has been successful, while Turkey not. Along other specific and more serious problems, Turkey is mainly handicapped by its population. While Bulgaria counts only 7 million people, Turkey over 60 million. Although every school teacher in Turkey boasts about the “young population” of the country, this undeniably brings a lot of -sometimes even insoluble- problems with it, like high unemployment rate, huge educational gap between different social classes, etc. However, there are some EU regulations that justify the famous motto, “some are more equal than others”. Even if some day the membership of Turkey is approved, every single EU member state will have the right to hold a referendum on this decision and eventually reject it. For example, just  Ivaylo Kalfin (photo: bsp.bg) Ivaylo Kalfin France could stop Turkey even if every other member approves its membership. Neither Bulgaria nor Romania nor any other candidate states in the past were subject to such a discriminatory regulation. Another point is the question of minorities. It is true that after drastic assimilation measures of the past, Bulgaria unquestionably redeemed itself. Country’s major minority, the Turks are allowed to take part in ruling governments. However, as of 2006, the Bulgarian government has not implemented any laws legislating against the discrimination of Roma. Roma suffer from widespread discrimination in Bulgarian society. It is remarkable how the monitoring report of May just bends Bulgaria’s ear over the issue. It is ironically better than nothing, however. The EU turns a blind eye on Greece’s controversial minority policies for years. The concept of the EU membership is dangerously becoming a tool of discrimination and “blackmailing” between peoples. One state equipped with the irresistible power of the EU membership can “blackmail” its aspiring neighbour any time. Recently Bulgaria gave a good example of this. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin “warned” that their support for Macedonia’s EU bid would not be “unconditional”. The EU should urge its members to be opener and farsighted. However, some of the doyens of the EU themselves, with their ambiguous, even discriminatory policy towards Turkey, are definitely not a good model for the newcomers to the European club. |
DouriosYpnos - August 20, 2006 04:55 PM (GMT)
So why Bulgaria outran Turkey on their way to EU? Because they are "liked" by EU members more than Turkey? Is this what Turkish people believe? How about you saladin?
And what are those "Greece’s controversial minority policies"? can someone name them please?
And what are those "Greece’s controversial minority policies"? can someone name them please?
saladin - August 20, 2006 06:14 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (DouriosYpnos @ Aug 20 2006, 06:55 PM) |
| So why Bulgaria outran Turkey on their way to EU? Because they are "liked" by EU members more than Turkey? Is this what Turkish people believe? How about you saladin? And what are those "Greece’s controversial minority policies"? can someone name them please? |
I think the map show clearly why.
DouriosYpnos - August 21, 2006 08:04 AM (GMT)
I'm affraid i can't figure out something from the map saladin.. but i do see that Turkey always tries to find excuses for its failures in external reasons instead of within Turkey.. it is always somebody else that treats Turkey "bad" and not just Turkey that doesn't follow the rules and doesn't comply with EU requirements...
I believe that you should wake up and understand that this is not a bazar... you either do what you have to do or you just stay out.. you can't expect to do some steps and the others to excuse the rest or do steps to the opposite direction in order to meet you somewhere in the middle... especially now that EU public opinion is strongly against large expansions and has realised the problems of the last big expansion...
It is also very funny to hear Turkey accusing Greece for minority issues.. just check the numbers of Greeks in Turkey (from about a million they are less than 2000) and Turks in Greece (they were 200.000 and they are more than 300.000 today).. as well as the rights and the standard of living they have...
I believe that you should wake up and understand that this is not a bazar... you either do what you have to do or you just stay out.. you can't expect to do some steps and the others to excuse the rest or do steps to the opposite direction in order to meet you somewhere in the middle... especially now that EU public opinion is strongly against large expansions and has realised the problems of the last big expansion...
It is also very funny to hear Turkey accusing Greece for minority issues.. just check the numbers of Greeks in Turkey (from about a million they are less than 2000) and Turks in Greece (they were 200.000 and they are more than 300.000 today).. as well as the rights and the standard of living they have...
saladin - August 21, 2006 08:15 AM (GMT)
OK,
Then answer this. Why is Turkey the only country whose membership need to be decided by the referandums. There are no excuses here. Turkey is very aware of its responsibilities. The top of the list is a solution to Cyprus.
And don't worry, as the time passes, number of people who want to join EU is going down. I'm sure among all European countries, Greece has the most to lost from an outside Turkey. I take it back, I think any country who will rely on the pipelines that goes through Turkey will have the most to lost.
Then answer this. Why is Turkey the only country whose membership need to be decided by the referandums. There are no excuses here. Turkey is very aware of its responsibilities. The top of the list is a solution to Cyprus.
And don't worry, as the time passes, number of people who want to join EU is going down. I'm sure among all European countries, Greece has the most to lost from an outside Turkey. I take it back, I think any country who will rely on the pipelines that goes through Turkey will have the most to lost.
D.E.A - August 21, 2006 09:02 AM (GMT)
Dourie the are no Turkish pepole in Greece only a few muslims who happen to live next to Turkey...
Saladin i think that after the trouble that the EU went into after the last large expansion and this old and new Europe thing, they wouldn't wat another USA puppet state to mess foreign affairs up..Then it those that still hold a grudge against you back from the 15th century were you conquered half of Europe...Others cannot tolerate a muslim state within the holy christian spirit of the EU,others because think that with a Turkey of 100 milion population in a few years and a Europe of 250 there will be a lot of problems in terms of employment etc.The only viable solution to me is a special relationship between the EU and Turkey...
And don't be afraid Russia in the end will end up as an EU member or with a veeeeery special relationship with Europe and those pipelines you mention wont be a problem at all for them, there's a lot of cash to be waisted..Noone wants a Turkey whose on the brink or separation for the last 120 years...
Anyways you don't have to worry about joining the EU or anything cause the world will end in a few years...Either someone will blow it or the planet will kill us off.... :D
Saladin i think that after the trouble that the EU went into after the last large expansion and this old and new Europe thing, they wouldn't wat another USA puppet state to mess foreign affairs up..Then it those that still hold a grudge against you back from the 15th century were you conquered half of Europe...Others cannot tolerate a muslim state within the holy christian spirit of the EU,others because think that with a Turkey of 100 milion population in a few years and a Europe of 250 there will be a lot of problems in terms of employment etc.The only viable solution to me is a special relationship between the EU and Turkey...
And don't be afraid Russia in the end will end up as an EU member or with a veeeeery special relationship with Europe and those pipelines you mention wont be a problem at all for them, there's a lot of cash to be waisted..Noone wants a Turkey whose on the brink or separation for the last 120 years...
Anyways you don't have to worry about joining the EU or anything cause the world will end in a few years...Either someone will blow it or the planet will kill us off.... :D
derkrieger - August 21, 2006 11:10 AM (GMT)
Dourie the are no Turkish pepole in Greece only a few muslims who happen to live next to Turkey
Thanks for the laughs in deed DEA.
Thanks for the laughs in deed DEA.
DouriosYpnos - August 21, 2006 12:05 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| Dourie the are no Turkish pepole in Greece only a few muslims who happen to live next to Turkey... |
Well lets not hide behind our finger my friend DEA... they are Muslims by the definition of the Lausan treaty unlike the Greeks of Turkey that are named as Greeks in the treaty.. that is true.. but they are of Turkish origin too.. not all of them but most of them.. a +70% of them.. there is no need to play with words on that..
@saladin
Turkey is really treated in a more special way than the other countries but this was not the way initially.. first Turkey acted agressively in her way to EU and then people placed Turkey under "close attention"
Anyway, Turkey is a very special case unlike any other EU candidate country.. it is not even a European country by definition.. it doens't share the same values with the rest of the European countries, it has different customs and religion, far different political system, it's economy is far from beeing close to the European economies and last but not least it is huge in population compared with the rest of Europe and this needs special treatment..
It would be naive to accuse Europe of "racism" against Turkey.. the natural would be for Turkey never to be even a candidate.. the fact that Turkey is offered such a position is by it's own a very big and positive step for Turkey and should be respected and exploited by Turkey as much as possible instead of "crying" about it..
If you really want to be in EU then you are the ones that need to take all he necessary steps and do all necessary changes and sacrifices.. you can't just "bully" yourself in..
As for the pipeline thing.. first those pipelines are on fire since yesterday if i'm not mistaken.. and second it may be that these pipelines will be a very big problem for Turkey in the near future if US really decides to split Iraq and take advantage of its resources.. countries with pipelines coming from Russia will not be that favorable to the US interests... and those pipelines may even be a very good reason behind a new Kurdish (US controlled) state with part of Turkey in its terretory..
D.E.A - August 21, 2006 12:20 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (derkrieger @ Aug 21 2006, 01:10 PM) |
| Dourie the are no Turkish pepole in Greece only a few muslims who happen to live next to Turkey Thanks for the laughs in deed DEA. |
As treaties say no Turks only muslims. You managed to exterminate whatever greek,assyrian etc population you had there, we acted like a civilized country and kept the Turkish originated population and treated them as equals and so on and on and on...Maybe we should start seeing them as terrorists hm who knows what future brings...
derkrieger - August 21, 2006 12:51 PM (GMT)
who fart again?
Kiziroglu - August 21, 2006 04:27 PM (GMT)
Yes we see it again...Bad Turkey....Good Europe...and the best of it all Greece... the world!
who needs facts when we have Ypnos ?
who needs facts when we have Ypnos ?
D.E.A - August 21, 2006 07:30 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Kiziroglu @ Aug 21 2006, 06:27 PM) |
| Yes we see it again...Bad Turkey....Good Europe...and the best of it all Greece... the world! who needs facts when we have Ypnos ? |
And the facts are?....
DouriosYpnos - August 22, 2006 07:51 PM (GMT)
Kizir i'm too tired and bored to fool around with you and your short-circuited logic... sorry mate, i'm getting old, you have to find some other kids to play with from now on.. ask the admins to create a kindergarden section for you in the forum...
Kiziroglu - August 23, 2006 05:32 PM (GMT)
you mean because we don't accept your pseudo-arguments ?
| QUOTE |
| As treaties say no Turks only muslims. You managed to exterminate whatever greek,assyrian etc population you had there, we acted like a civilized country and kept the Turkish originated population and treated them as equals and so on and on and on... |
to believe this kind of crap ? well if i have to believe such BS to become "mature" i abjure...even if i doubt about your definition of that term...
DouriosYpnos - August 23, 2006 07:59 PM (GMT)
This is not my argument kizir.. this is DEAs argument... and believe it or not it is quite true.. i believe that most Turkish foruments will be able to confirm it for you..
Kiziroglu - August 24, 2006 12:32 PM (GMT)
it is from the same kind of your general arguments....so it was usefull as an example...
D.E.A - August 24, 2006 12:44 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Kiziroglu @ Aug 23 2006, 07:32 PM) | ||
you mean because we don't accept your pseudo-arguments ?
to believe this kind of crap ? well if i have to believe such BS to become "mature" i abjure...even if i doubt about your definition of that term... |
Does anything from what i said belong to the sphere of fiction? No... It's the historical truth wether you accept it or not.
DouriosYpnos - August 24, 2006 04:12 PM (GMT)
Kizir i was not talking about minorities.. i was talking about Turkish mentality about EU.. and it is not relative at all with what you wrote.. apart from that i also stated a completely different opinion than the one you commented about the muslim minority.. i said that in the papers they are muslim but in reality 70% of them is of Turkish origin...
Please read and think before you post.. you make a fool of yourself..
Please read and think before you post.. you make a fool of yourself..
Kiziroglu - August 26, 2006 02:15 PM (GMT)
@ D.E.A: your truth.
@ Ypnos: Your "arguments" were from the same kind and same ignorance.
Look at your first posts! The same exchangeable greco-repertoire.....
@ Ypnos: Your "arguments" were from the same kind and same ignorance.
Look at your first posts! The same exchangeable greco-repertoire.....