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ANKARA: FM Gul Blames EU Leaders for Plunge in Turkish Support for E

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  • ANKARA: FM Gul Blames EU Leaders for Plunge in Turkish Support for E

    Zaman Online, Turkey
    July 7 2006

    FM Gul Blames EU Leaders for Plunge in Turkish Support for EU
    By Cihan News Agency
    Published: Friday, July 07, 2006
    zaman.com


    Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul blamed some European leaders for the
    plunge in Turkish public support for the European Union (EU).

    Gul told a press conference on Friday after his US visit that the
    remarks of some EU leaders, who cater to their domestic politics
    without considering the impact of these remarks in Turkey, are
    responsible for the drop in support for the EU.

    A Eurobarometer poll, carried in April over 1000 people in Turkey,
    found that only 43 percent of Turks have a positive image of the
    union. The recent figure shows a plunge in Turkish support for the EU
    over a six-month period, as the corresponding figure was 60 percent
    six months earlier.

    FM Gul stated that the European side should act responsibly to
    prepare the Turkish public. Gul noted; however, that the exaggeration
    of certain issues in Turkey was partly responsible for the fall in
    Turkish support for EU membership. Foreign Minister Gul pledged that
    the ruling AKP would take measures to tackle the fall in Turkish
    support for the union.

    Most of the Turkish people are unhappy with the EU stance on Cyprus,
    PKK terrorism, the so-called Armenian issue and the Greek Orthodox
    Patriarchy. Remarkable numbers of Turks believe that the EU the
    cynical intention to divide Turkey.

    Unceasing EU demands on the Turkish government and increasing
    pressure over Cyprus are seen as the main reasons why Turkish people
    have begun to turn their back to the European Union. The more EU
    leaders criticize Turkey, the more nationalist sentiment gains ground
    in Turkey.

    Turkey commenced actual accession talks with the European Union in
    mid-June, following its eight-month screening process.

    Turkey's EU accession process is expected to be long, arduous and
    susceptible to crises, especially on Cyprus. Optimistic analysts
    predict that Turkey, with its large population, may enter the wealthy
    bloc by 2014 at the earliest.
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