Handling Turkey is a delicate thing. An important Western ally (at least for now), with important economic and historical ties to the Europe, Turkey is the only secularized Muslim nation facing modernity. On this alone, its membership into the EU is a no-brainer.
Unfortunately, this is offset by its human rights record.
How can Turkey apply for EU membership as it actively suppressed the rights of the Church of Constantinople and the tiny Greek Orthodox population? How can it look at Greece, an EU member, and wish for membership? Its human rights record, as a whole, is simply not up to standards with the EU. Most Greek Orthodox citizens were expelled and the tiny minority left behind remain in a precarious situation vulnerable to Turkey's wrath.
Moreover, Turkey still hasn't come clean about the Armenian genocide. 155 million Armenians died? 155 million? Wow.
Then again, the West does turn a blind eye on China's patently inhumane rights record. True, they're not asking for EU membership but still...
Anyway, usually economics and politics prevail when it comes to this sort of stuff. We'll see how Europe handles the Turkey file moving forward.
And don't forget Turkey's invasion and continued occupation of the northern portion of Cyprus where they have set up a "Republic" recognized by no one but Turkey.
ReplyDeleteAs long as that is not settled no way Greece will agree to Turkey entering the UE and admission requires the unanimous vote of the 27 others.
And Greece is right.
ReplyDeleteEconomic considerations seem to trump everything else. The thinking is, if you bring them in, they will change.
I'm not so sure about that.
Did the 2008 Olympics change China's attitude toward human rigths? You answer is there.
ReplyDeleteBingo.
ReplyDelete