Turkey's Government Crumbling.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Oops. sorry about that.

[The Pioneer]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly


I simply mean there won't be soldiers policing the voting....

Happens in Greece all the time, although I never understood why!

[The Pioneer]

One thing is very very important and that is the fact that Turkey has to stay "pro western" and finally included in the EU (although I'd like to see the Cyprus thing solved till then) to keep the balance btwn muslim and christian states. Like for example now Turkey is leading the coalition forces in Afghanistan and that's a very very good thing (example of unity, no discrimination btwn christians and muslims). It is very important for the rest of the world to appreciate it and promote it. As a greek I wish Turkey will stay stable and its finances to recover, in the last couple years we have shown that if we leave the past behind us it is for the better of us and our children. So for us from theoutside keep our fingers crossed and hope that things will turn out on the right side!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by The Pioneer
One thing is very very important and that is the fact that Turkey has to stay "pro western" and finally included in the EU (although I'd like to see the Cyprus thing solved till then) to keep the balance btwn muslim and christian states. Like for example now Turkey is leading the coalition forces in Afghanistan and that's a very very good thing (example of unity, no discrimination btwn christians and muslims). It is very important for the rest of the world to appreciate it and promote it. As a greek I wish Turkey will stay stable and its finances to recover, in the last couple years we have shown that if we leave the past behind us it is for the better of us and our children. So for us from theoutside keep our fingers crossed and hope that things will turn out on the right side!

Those of us inside are crossing our fingers as well. Unfortunately, there's a fair amount of anti-EU sentiment in Turkey. In fact, another reason National Movement is trying to delay elections until November is to screw up any chance the new government would have to prepare for December's EU ascension talks. I think most Turks want to be in the EU -- after all, the economic advantages are obvious -- but many feel that the Copenhagen Criteria for ascension -- which would require Turkey to abolish the death penalty and recognize the rights of Kurds to their own language, among other things -- are too extreme (which is rubbish). Some are also reluctant to become the Sick Man of Europe again, preferring the possibility of being the Strong Man of Central Asia (plans for an EU-like federation of Turkey and the Turkic forner Soviet republics are often mentioned,again mostly by the pan-Turkic fascists in the National Movement Party).

I think Cyprus will be another big issue in the elections, too. Cem is so well-liked in the West in part because he favors rapprochment on the Cyprus issue. By contrast, unfortunately, his resignantion has led to him being replaced by a Cyprus hard-liner, which should effectively squash any progress until a new government is formed.

[MarkG]

pioneer, i think it has stoped as of the 2000 elections...

[Bereta_Eder]

Imran you dope!

As for the issue at hand, I've heard that Cem's party received an outanding 52% of the turkish votes in a recent poll

We want Cem

[Bereta_Eder]

Let's face it. Greek and Turkish relations were never as close as when Cem was Foreign Minister.

There's even a "red hotline phone" between Cem and Papandreou offices to call eachother and difuse tensions when things get hot.


So it's got to be Cem.

[Bereta_Eder]

Let's all finance him!

[Bereta_Eder]

then we can all dance zeibekiko

[The Pioneer]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
Some are also reluctant to become the Sick Man of Europe again, preferring the possibility of being the Strong Man of Central Asia (plans for an EU-like federation of Turkey and the Turkic forner Soviet republics are often mentioned,again mostly by the pan-Turkic fascists in the National Movement Party).

If Turkey plays it right it will become a very strong and important east to west and west to east connection for the EU which will boost its importance more to just a sick relative of the EU. I truthfully hope that all will go well and that Turkey will do good on the financial crisis that's still oversahdowing everything. The problems you name are much more easily solved when everybody has his family fed and money in his pockets.

[Bereta_Eder]

Here's what shi wrote:

the communist/nazi/terrorist/evil State of Greece.
Paitkis, he is an Ultra- Right Wing nationalist who supports Terrorism and hate Turks

All wrong.

I am accutely familiar with the problems between Greece and Turkey and forgive me if I don't see all to be peachy witchy.

But then again you, as a turk american, wouldn't hesitate to see Greece and Turkey in a war, since you are so far away and that's why you spill oil in fire. Forgive me if I don't join your ambitions.

You rejoice in the slaughter of Greeks, how can anyone be as cruel as you? And you're not joking in the slightest. Not even when you support terrorism against Greece

A fine speciment to be eliminated from our region. You are called murderer of peoples for good reason

now blah and buzz off

[Bereta_Eder]

And shi, instead of supporting democratization in Turkey you support a military regime. You betray the ideals of democracy in the most grottesque way.

When I reply in kind to your pathetic trolls you call me a right winger (which in itself is an insult to me )

You are an obstacle, the problem and not the solution.

And purposeslly obtuse in distinguishing trolls from reality.

The problem with you is that you are pissed that Greece is doing ok while your beloved Turkey is not. People like you damage Turkey instead of helping her.

So if you want your beloved Turkey to fair better start from the man in the mirror.

(sorry for the unintentional Michael Jackson reference here)

[Bereta_Eder]

And sorry if I couldn't care less.

Turkey better start being democratic to its own people first, less of an abnoxious child to all its neighboors and maybe we can talk.

Although, as I said, before, how can I have anything against the Turkish and Kurdish people who are the ones who truely suffer.

Instead of lobbying for the political prisoners to get out of their cells and stop being tortured you unashamingly support the military regime. And instead of lobbying for the Kurds to be treated like human beings you supported their slaughter. Are you human?

[MarkG]

paiktis, apparently that poll was made on the internet, on the sites of two newspapers
not the most scientific thing...

[Bereta_Eder]

Well we can hope can't we?

(come on, as if the pre-election french "official" polls were any better )