Turkey tries everything to stay out of the EU

[Harovan]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
I love it when someone posts a picture of a drop dead gorgeous woman but guys like Sir Ralph will still find something wrong with them. Like he would ever have a 1 in 1 million chance of getting a woman like that anyway.

If I would be into wasting money for something I can get for free, I'd say 50 Euros per hour, 100 tops if I'm in good mood, in some godforsaken brothel in Nuremberg. But alas, painted up women with breast implants aren't my type. Besides, chicks like this look out for fat ugly millionaires. I match none of these categories. May be you do, of course except for the millions.

This only leads me to conclude that Sir Ralph is gay.

It's not the first false conclusion I read from you, but since I don't have anything against gays, I don't take it as insult. My response would be censored, so I don't bother to post it.

[Ancyrean]

Originally posted by Spiffor

And he was damn right IMHO.

I'm a strong supporter of an empowered EU, but there are some matters that are to be left in the hands of Member-States. I mean: we have countries where abortion is banned. As much as I disagree with these countries, it's their call to lift the ban or not. Just like as much as I disagree with the criminalisation of adultery, it's typically the kind of issue where it's Turkey's call, not the EU's.

So far, the EU commissioner for enlargement is quite adamant about this issue and today's headlines in Turkish press is all about his latest remark that without the whole reform package gets passed, no date for negotiations can ever start. Commission's final progress report on Turkey is due 6 October, so in fact even if Erdoðan lets himself be convinced by the EU, he's quite short on time to get things going.

[Heresson]

Originally posted by Ancyrean
On a lighter note, my quite fair complexion creates a huge impression when girls here learn I myself am a Muslim Not that they wouldn't hang out with non-muslims but it certainly draws the attention positively to me since they are not used to see a Muslim buleh (white man) and I surely am not comlplaining about that . And the girls here, I must tell you, are quite relaxed in general

Congratulations
What are You doing there, anyway?
Calisiyorsun?

That's understandable for me, thinking about how much an average person in Turkey knows the difference between peoples of this corner of the world.

I assure You though, that an average person in western Europe or America doesn't.
In Poland it is better, much better, but still people think that Persians died out after Persian Wars and Iran is Arabic....
Well, some Arabs of Maghrib have the same impression...

Similarly, many solemn ceremonies like opening of the parliament and so on start with a religious ceremony, complete with verses from Quran and colective prayers for succes, people greeting each other as well as audiences with Islamic greetings, which is for my secular sense rather puzzling.

That's nothing special. The same in Poland - just catholic rite...

Islamisation of Indonesia is still something impressing for me. A biggest Muslim society borned on margin of Muslim world actually.
I don't know anything about it, just that before Muslims, there were some Nestorian traders, and after that Muslim ones, who spread Islam. Do You know how did it look exactly?
Do Indonesians have the same frenzy attitude to Israel - Palestine stuff as large part of Muslim world?
How do the mosques look like?
I think I remember that long time ago, there were some riots there (no, not Timor), directed against wealthy Chineese, who were supposed to be largely Christian, or something. Are there many Chineese in Indonesia?
They seem to be everywhere in the region.

[Gangerolf]

EU demands new Turkish penal code

The European Commission says it will advise EU leaders that accession talks with Turkey should not begin unless Ankara adopts a new penal code.

"If this central element of reform, that is the new civil code, is not adopted negotiations cannot start," said a Commission spokesman on Monday.

The Commission is due to present a report on 6 October on whether Turkey has met the criteria set by the EU.

A move to criminalise adultery in the penal code has caused much controversy.

Last week Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit out at the European Union, telling it not to interfere in his country's internal affairs.

He spoke after the European Commission warned that Turkey's bid to join the EU could be complicated by its delay in passing the penal code.

The bill was withdrawn on Thursday because of the adultery row.

The bill was intended to bring Turkish laws closer to those of EU member states and was seen as crucial to Turkey's chances of EU entry.

However, the entire package of measures is now subject to review and may not be ready in time for the commission's report on Turkey's progress.

Mr Filori rejected Mr Erdogan's criticism of the EU's position, saying "it is not intereference in Turkish affairs, it is the rule of the game if a country wants to be an EU member".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3672834.stm

[Ancyrean]

Originally posted by Heresson

Congratulations
What are You doing there, anyway?
Calisiyorsun?

Evet çalýþýyorum Cakarta çok güzel bir kent

I remember you told me your grandparents emigrated from Turkey to Poland, are you still learning Turkish?

Originally posted by Heresson
I don't know anything about it, just that before Muslims, there were some Nestorian traders, and after that Muslim ones, who spread Islam. Do You know how did it look exactly?

IIRC, it was the Arab traders who brought Islam to Indonesia, and that's not before around 15th century. Again, IIRC, the dominant religion here before the advent of Islam was Hindu here. Later on, as convert-Muslim kingdoms of Sumatra expanded eastwards, eventually conquering all of Java. Hindus took refuge in Bali, where they managed to hold their ground and even today Bali is predominantly Hindu

Originally posted by Heresson
Do Indonesians have the same frenzy attitude to Israel - Palestine stuff as large part of Muslim world?

The Middle East is not so much on the headlines here, but if the topic comes up they're not pro-Israeli and officially Indonesia condemns Israel for its policies, but then again, this is not a central issue in foreign affairs of the country.

Originally posted by Heresson
How do the mosques look like?

For me, they look more look like in the Arab-Oriental style than what I'm used to in Turkey. Here is a rough example:

[Ancyrean]

Originally posted by Heresson
I think I remember that long time ago, there were some riots there (no, not Timor), directed against wealthy Chineese, who were supposed to be largely Christian, or something. Are there many Chineese in Indonesia?
They seem to be everywhere in the region.

IIRC, Chinese constitute 3% of the population here and they hold in their hands a whopping 50-60% of the wealth in the country. You can imagine they are not the most popular group in ndonesia

Riots, yes, in 1998 I guess, but that did not start as a riot against the Chinese per se, it was against the autocrat Soeharto, ruling the country for 32-years then. The rioters also vented their frustration against the Chinese in the turmoil.

[Ancyrean]

Latest development on the adultery stint:

Turkish prime minister flew to Brussels to meet with EU people and "clarify" what he meant. Basically, he turned out to have made a complete u-turn, saying that adultery is not an issue at all, that he won't press for it and during his government's time it won't come up again.

In addition, he summoned the parliament (currently not in session) in an extraordinary session to approve the penal code reform as a whole without changes this sunday, that is two days from today. Wow!

Man, what an (pleasant) end to what a (twisted) story, but there's one bright side for Turkey: The EU Commission agreed to put forward no further conditions before Turkey, practically promising to start negotiations with Turkey with no additional demands, inherently accepting that Turkey's progress so far is good enough to open negotiations.

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph


If I would be into wasting money for something I can get for free, I'd say 50 Euros per hour, 100 tops if I'm in good mood, in some godforsaken brothel in Nuremberg. But alas, painted up women with breast implants aren't my type. Besides, chicks like this look out for fat ugly millionaires. I match none of these categories. May be you do, of course except for the millions.

Wow, "Sir" Ralph you must be a real catch!

So you admit you can't get a woman of this class without having to pay for it.

Like a woman like that would ever be in a brothel anyway. We'll have to rely on your expertise on that matter.

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by Ancyrean




For me, they look more look like in the Arab-Oriental style than what I'm used to in Turkey. Here is a rough example:

[Harovan]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
Wow, "Sir" Ralph you must be a real catch!

Thanks, better than a fat ugly havenot like you.

So you admit you can't get a woman of this class without having to pay for it.

What of the sentence "If I would be into wasting money for something I can get for free" did you not understand? Ok I admit it is pointless to explain something to somebody with 3 bit brain capacity.

Like a woman like that would ever be in a brothel anyway. We'll have to rely on your expertise on that matter.

I don't know and I tell you what, I don't want to know. You missed the part "painted up women with breast implants aren't my type". Looks like severe dyslexia. I have to correct my guess above to 1 bit. At most.

[Ancyrean]

Firstly, Ted Striker

Secondly, I believe another picture of Azra Akýn, Miss World 2002, would be the best answer to Sir Ralph's misguided comments:

[Harovan]

Looks admittedly much better this way.

[Heresson]

Originally posted by Ancyrean

Evet çalýþýyorum Cakarta çok güzel bir kent

Maalesef Varsova cok guzel bir kent degil.

I remember you told me your grandparents emigrated from Turkey to Poland, are you still learning Turkish?

No, it were my teacher's grandparents that emmigrated from Turkey.
Mine grandpa was (officially, as I mentioned, I have some doubts) Armenian. And Polish Armenians used to speak Turkish and are considered Turks by turkologists. That's my only tie to Turkey.
Except for that when I finally become Byzantine Emperor,
my residence shall be Istanbul (Heressonia Magna).

IIRC, it was the Arab traders who brought Islam to Indonesia, and that's not before around 15th century. Again, IIRC, the dominant religion here before the advent of Islam was Hindu here. Later on, as convert-Muslim kingdoms of Sumatra expanded eastwards, eventually conquering all of Java. Hindus took refuge in Bali, where they managed to hold their ground and even today Bali is predominantly Hindu

Interesting.
What's about this most eastern part, the one that is on New Guinea island?
Was it muslim also before it was added to Indonesia? Or was it added only because it was Dutch as the rest before?
And what's the turmoil going on there?

The Middle East is not so much on the headlines here, but if the topic comes up they're not pro-Israeli and officially Indonesia condemns Israel for its policies, but then again, this is not a central issue in foreign affairs of the country.

That's a sobre attitude :b

For me, they look more look like in the Arab-Oriental style than what I'm used to in Turkey. Here is a rough example:

hm.... The nicest mosques are Mamluk ones in Cairo, with imperial Turkish close behind.

[VetLegion]

However, critics in Ankara fear that Europe may be reluctant to embrace mainly Muslim Turkey on any terms.

Turkish European hopes were rattles when the Catholic Church's most senior theologian said Turkey should not attempt to join the European Union because it is a majority Muslim country with Muslim roots.

Turkey should seek its future in an association of Muslim nations rather than try to join a European community with Christian roots, the Vatican's Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said on 11 August.

The doctrinal head of the Roman Catholic Church said Turkey had always been "in permanent contrast to Europe" and linking it to Europe would be a mistake.

http://english.aljazeera.net/english/DialogBox/BreakingNews.aspx

Ratzinger is the unofficial spokesman of the Catholic Church. I didn't know they were opposed to Turkey's membership.

[Heresson]

Vatican wants a Christian Europe, it's quite obvious