Category: EU Members

European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Turkey on 17 Dec. 2004

Turkey urges EU for direct trade with Turkish Cyprus

Turkey’s chief negotiator in EU accession talks urged the European Parliament to approve a legislation that would allow direct trade with Turkish Cyprus.

Turkey’s chief negotiator in country’s European Union accession talks on Wednesday urged the European Parliament to approve a legislation that would allow direct trade between EU member states and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

“The moment EU vessels dock at the Turkish Cypriot ports, our ports in Turkey will open their doors to the vessels of all EU member states,” Egemen Bagis told reporters.

The EU calls on Turkey to open its harbors and airports to all traffic from the Greek Cypriot administration in line with an additional protocol to the country’s customs union agreement.

Turkey says it will not remove limitations on the Greek Cypriot ships unless the EU ends a similar embargo on the TRNC, as the Union pledged after Turkish Cypriots agreed to a 2004 UN-brokered plan to reunify the island.

“The Direct Trade Regulation would also help resolve the Cyprus issue by closing the income gap between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots,” Bagis also said.

AA, 29 September 2010

September 30, 2010
Turkey Is Not Ready for the EU

Regarding the Sept. 23 news article “Westerwelle urges EU to engage Turkey,” I wonder if German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle thoroughly followed the events that led to the recent “yes” vote for Turkey’s intended constitutional changes.

It is advisable to understand the Ottoman mentality and modern Turkey as created by Ataturk. In a country run by pro-Islamists, has there really been an open debate about these constitutional changes? Has the West seen how the ruling AKP party has commandeered all the top media advertising, as well as the radio (which is indeed the voice of the present government) and TV? What about the reported threats to leading journalists who were trying, in a logical way, to convey the tricks underlying these constitutional changes?

I would strongly recommend that Mr. Westerwelle consider the Pope’s recent speech during his visit to the U.K., in which he noted that Europe is taking its secular approach a bit too far and would do well to look back to its roots.

I wonder if Mr. Westerwelle has forgotten the days when Turks used to slaughter animals on their balconies in the name of Islam. Does he think it would turn out well to have women covered from head to toe wandering towns and villages all over Germany?

Being Turkish and Muslim myself, I strongly object to Turkey joining the EU under the present circumstances and for a considerable time yet. A rather more limited partnership would be the best approach for now.

Tayfun Balkan
London

Source: The Wall Street Journal

September 29, 2010
German airline fined for violating antitrust laws

BERLIN

Germany’s antitrust agency says it has fined a subsidiary of Thomas Cook AG euro1.2 million (1.6 million) for illegally coordinating prices of flights between Germany and Turkey.

The Federal Cartel Office said Tuesday airline Condor GmbH was fined for price coordination with its counterpart SunExpress in 2009 on routes simultaneously operated by the two companies.

It says the two airlines agreed SunExpress would not offer flights from Germany to Turkey for less than euro99, and tickets were meant not to be more than euro10 cheaper than Condor’s.

The office said the investigation was triggered by SunExpress, a joint venture of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Turkish Airlines, which was not fined according to the agency’s leniency program.

Source: Business Week

September 29, 2010
Four in Middle East to open free trade

NEW YORK, Sept. 27 (UPI) — Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey had agreed to move forward on a regional free-trade zone.

Davutoglu told reporters in New York that a summit meeting in Istanbul would likely concluded with an announcement that the four-country trade agreement, including “visa-free” travel for the region, would begin in January.

“We will declare at that summit that this economic zone is in effect,” Davutoglu said after meeting with foreign ministers of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon at U.N. Headquarters, Today’s Zaman reported.

Turkey and Lebanon have already entered into a formal free-trade and visa-free arrangement with a deal signed this summer.

But the deal may well be a first step towards a Middle East version of the European Union, Today’s Zaman reported.

Turkey has been openly pursuing membership to the EU since 2005, but the application process has moved slowly.

In New York, Davutoglu said, “The EU is of course a good model of cooperation and we can look into it. But this cooperation, after all, is a product of our history.”

https://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/09/27/Four-in-Middle-East-to-open-free-trade/UPI-79101285623196/, Sept. 27, 2010

September 28, 2010
D. Dollis «It is a great honor for me and the Greek Diaspora»

Melbourne, 07.09.2010

The new Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dimitris Dollis, stated to “Neos Kosmos” that the decision of the Prime Minister, George Papandreou, to include him in the new cabinet is a “great honor and a great challenge”.

He said that his appointment as one of the two Deputy Prime Ministers is an “honor for the Greeks of Australia but also for the Greek Diaspora in general”.

Mr. Dollis made a commitment that he will do “the best possible for the Greek Diaspora”, from his current position as well, within the framework of the government’s policy.

Dimitris Dollis was born in Kastoria. He developed his political activities in the state of Victoria, in Australia, where his family emigrated when he was 15 years old. Within the 29 years he spent in Australia, he served as City Councilor, Member of the Parliament*, Shadow Minister and Deputy Leader of the Labor Party. When he returned to Greece, he was appointed as the General Secretary for Greeks Abroad of the Greek Government.

He made a close connection with George Papandreou and supported him during his course. As the Prime Minister of Greece, George Papandreou appointed him as Ambassador-at-Large and Special Envoy of the PM for the release of the Greek teacher Thanassis Lerounis, who had been abducted by the Taliban.

Source: ANA–MPA

* Greek Parliamentarians Abroad

Jim Karygiannis (CANADA)
http://www.karygiannismp.com

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (GERMANY)

Niki Ashton (CANADA)

September 27, 2010
Stuttgart 21: Symbol for the “arrogance of power?”

The latest of several protests in Stuttgart against the German city’s multi-billion euro renovation scheme has again attracted thousands of people.

It was largely peaceful but late in the evening 27 demonstrators were arrested, accused of blocking a road.

The project “Stuttgart 21” aims to turn the main rail terminus into an underground through-station. It would enable the city to become an international transport hub. Stuttgart would join one of Europe’s major high-speed rail routes, linking Paris, Strasbourg and Munich, and on to Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.

Talks failed to halt early demolition work to part of the station.

Critics challenge the cost which has soared from the original estimate of around four billion euros. They also want more debate on traffic issues and alternative solutions.

The scheme’s supporters argue it would transform Stuttgart into “the new heart of Europe”, attracting thousand of jobs.

But the row is threatening to fuel more widespread dissent. Some opponents see it as a deal cut by business leaders and politicians and flying in the face of public opinion.

In the words of one local academic, Stuttgart 21 has become a symbol for the “arrogance of power”.

Euro News

September 25, 2010