Jan 19th, 2012 by admin
As part of a project in which Turkey-EU relations are revealed through cartoons, 2,000 strips have been collected from publications released between 1960 and 2011. The initiative will be completed by October when 75 expertly selected cartoons will be displayed at an exhibition
Nearly 2,000 cartoons have been collected as part of a project started two months ago by the History Foundation to reveal Turkey-EU relations through cartoons. Continue Reading »
Jan 14th, 2012 by admin
The European Parliament’s reporter for Turkey, Ria Oomen-Rujiten, said Turkey’s fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) should be supported by all European countries.
However, she criticized the utilization of terror laws for limiting freedom of press and expression, referring to the Kılıçdaroğlu case as an example. Continue Reading »
Dec 28th, 2011 by blogger
Turkish Minister for European Union (EU) Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said Wednesday that the EU process was a matter of both foreign policy and internal politics.
In an interview published on internet site “ab-ilan.com”, Bagis stressed that all Turkish institutions, all non-governmental organizations, media, universities and 74 million Turkish citizens were not part of the EU process but rather actors in the process.
Thanks to its reform process, Turkey has gained psychological superiority over those who approach Turkey with pre-conceived notions in the European Union, Bagis noted. Continue Reading »
Dec 23rd, 2011 by admin
Turkish prime minister says Turkey cancels all military cooperation and political consultation with France in protest of a resolution penalizing denial of Armenian ‘genocide’ which is approved by French assembly yesterday.
Turkey announced it cancelled bilateral military and economic cooperation and suspended all bilateral political consultation with France, describing the French vote as doing politics via racism and xenophobia ahead of presidential elections. Continue Reading »
Dec 8th, 2011 by admin
Turkish Minister for European Union (EU) Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said Thursday that “Turkey did not say ‘yes’ to everything in its EU process”.
Addressing members of the Aegean Chamber of Industry (EBSO) in western province of Izmir, Bagis said that there have been positive developments in the Turkish economy recently. Continue Reading »
Dec 5th, 2011 by admin
Turkish EU minister said on Sunday that during Greek Cypriot administration’s EU term presidency, Turkey would not sit at the table with the term president.
However Turkey would continue its relations with the European Commission and Parliament during Greek Cypriot administration’s EU presidency, EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said at a TV program. Continue Reading »
Nov 28th, 2011 by admin
The EU faces a litmus test as it must decide whether to include Turkey in a critical discussion on the bloc’s attitude toward Syria, an official says
An EU decision on whether to invite Turkey to a key meeting on Syria will be critical in determining whether the bloc will become a “global power” or remain “political dwarf,” according to Turkish Foreign Ministry officials.
France announced yesterday that it had suggested that non-EU member Turkey be invited to a foreign ministers’ meeting on the ongoing unrest in Syria because of Ankara’s key role in the Arab republic’s crisis. Continue Reading »
Nov 25th, 2011 by admin
Turkey’s foreign minister said on Friday that visa exemption would increase Turkey’s contributions to the European Union (EU).
Ahmet Davutoglu said visa exemption was Turkey’s right, not a demand.
“We believe visa exemption which will boost economic relations between Turkey and the EU in such an economic crisis atmosphere, will add a significant dynamism to Europe’s economy,” Davutoglu told the Eighth Turkish-Italian Forum in Istanbul. Continue Reading »
Nov 25th, 2011 by admin
European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said on Thursday that the EU needed Turkey, and Turkey needed the EU.
Buzek addressed the Turkish parliament and said, “in the EU as well, Turkey has an important role to play. Cyprus remains the last divided country in the European Union – and we also look to you to constructively help end this dispute.”
“The tensions we have witnessed in the recent months between Turkey and Cyprus concern me greatly. I would like to reiterate the European Parliament’s call on your government to continue to actively support the on-going negotiations between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus under the auspices of the UN Secretary General. A fair and viable settlement of the Cyprus issue on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, is now urgent,” he said. Continue Reading »
Nov 25th, 2011 by admin
The president of the European Parliament has said the European Union is looking to Turkey to help stabilize the Middle East, shaken by instability and uprisings since the start of this year.
Jerzy Buzek, who is visiting Turkey this week, told Turkish deputies in Parliament on Thursday that he knows from his own experiences that a falling dictatorship is both dangerous and unpredictable, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime is threatened by an eight-month uprising that claimed nearly 4,000 lives. He said across the east Mediterranean, not just in Syria, there are multiple flashpoints and that the 27-nation bloc is looking to Turkey to help stabilize the region. Continue Reading »