OBAMA, SARKOZY CLASH OVER TURKEY’S EU BID

[MosJan]

OBAMA, SARKOZY CLASH OVER TURKEY’S EU BID

• U.S. President Barack Obama urged the European Union on Sunday to accept Turkey as a full member of the 27-nation bloc, in remarks rejected outright by France and met coolly by Germany. The disagreement was a rare outward sign of divergence at an EU-U.S. summit stage-managed to relaunch transatlantic ties that were strained under the Bush administration and which both sides are now eager to mend. "The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbors and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence, forging a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interests," Obama told the summit. "Moving forward toward Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your (EU) commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe," he told EU leaders. Turkey has long been seeking to join the bloc, and Obama's comments were a reaffirmation of U.S. support for that goal. But there is resistance among EU states such as Germany and France to its membership, including among ruling conservatives. Nicolas Sarkozy said it was up to the EU member states to decide on Turkish entry and reiterated his opposition. "I have always been opposed to this entry," he told France's TF1 television. "I still am and I think I can say that the immense majority of member states shares the position of France," he said. "Turkey is a very great country, an ally of Europe, an ally of the United States. It will stay a privileged partner. My position hasn't changed and it won't change," he said, Reuters reported.

[Z'areh]

This only proves that, at least at this stage of Obama's presidency, the US administration follows a pattern in foreign policy set by his predecessors, all the way to Clinton and Bush. Which, by the way includes the mandatory phrase "the terrible events of 1915".

 

 

OBAMA, SARKOZY CLASH OVER TURKEY’S EU BID

• U.S. President Barack Obama urged the European Union on Sunday to accept Turkey as a full member of the 27-nation bloc, in remarks rejected outright by France and met coolly by Germany. The disagreement was a rare outward sign of divergence at an EU-U.S. summit stage-managed to relaunch transatlantic ties that were strained under the Bush administration and which both sides are now eager to mend. "The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbors and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence, forging a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interests," Obama told the summit. "Moving forward toward Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your (EU) commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe," he told EU leaders. Turkey has long been seeking to join the bloc, and Obama's comments were a reaffirmation of U.S. support for that goal. But there is resistance among EU states such as Germany and France to its membership, including among ruling conservatives. Nicolas Sarkozy said it was up to the EU member states to decide on Turkish entry and reiterated his opposition. "I have always been opposed to this entry," he told France's TF1 television. "I still am and I think I can say that the immense majority of member states shares the position of France," he said. "Turkey is a very great country, an ally of Europe, an ally of the United States. It will stay a privileged partner. My position hasn't changed and it won't change," he said, Reuters reported.

 

[vava]

I just posted the following HERE. But i figured it was relevant in this thread as well. Sorry for the double posting...

 

Reading the last few posts - I keep asking myself, does anyone actually believe (I mean really believe, not just hopefulness) that the official US policy on AG recognition will change because of this man? He's an amazing orator, and he seemingly has an incredible ability to catalyze the american public towards change, BUT, the AG decision is hardly about your average "joe the plumber". It's a deep rooted political issue that has significant implications (foreign policy & otherwise). Ag recognition seems to have become a tool, (a pawn, a commodity, call it what you will) for negotiation. Apart from doing the "right" thing, what will Mr. Obama gain by supporting a policy change?