Informal boycott of French products taking hold...

[Lancer]

Chris, that might take the form of not traveling to Canada, but we need the wood, and the auto industry is all one.

[Bereta_Eder]

Turkey invaded Cyprus after a coup was tried by Greece (which was then itself ruled by a junta) which aimed to unite the island (with an 80% Greek Majority) with Greece.

There has been massacres and rapes by the Turks invading. Noone recognises the occupied part as a state except for Turkey.

Turkey also has violated and is violating numerous UN resolutions (who call for the withdrawl of the turkish occupation forces)... but see noone's really interested in that, besides the Cypriotes and Greeks and those who in general support international law.

The minority turkish cypriotes want to rejoin with their Greek Cypriot compatriotes (and enjoy all the full benefits that the Greek Cypriote part will get in the EU) but the petty dicator named Denktas as well as the military regime of Turkey will have none of it.

They think Cyprus is dangerous for Turkey from a geostrategic point of view, so damn the turkish cypriots and their utter poverty, the occupation continues. Of course there is no such danger, just a bit of powerplay to increase Turkey's land as much as it can.

[Menlas]

I'm sure this kind of action will only have very limited effects on our economy : US and France economies are very linked, an "official" boycott would be stupid for both (anyway, it is illegal and the WTO could impose sanctions).
We can already see it : a special meeting at the White House about the future policies against France was planned yesterday, it has been cancelled. The White House recently rejected an amendment proposed by the Congress to "punish" France. And the list goes on...

It seems even Bush and his guys realized how ridiculous this kind of sanctions was...

[Lancer]

Sounds more like Iraq all the time. Minority population taking power, murder, rape, expansionism...you should support our effort in Iraq...

[yago]

ooohhh yago, really? ya think so?

yes

Has America a weak spot ?

I give you a hint.



Hit where it hurts.

[Lancer]

Manlas, it's a boycott, not sanctions.

[Bereta_Eder]

Why should the public opinion support your views on Iraq (the gov. is supporting it anyway).

If anything, it is a blatant double standard, don't you think? Turkey and Iraq is the same. However, Turkey is being carressed and helped by the US, Iraq is being bombed.

Besides, how would that help us given the fact that the US has no intention of interfering in a positive way in Cyprus anyway?

I hope you see that what you say doesn't make sense.

[Menlas]

Originally posted by Lancer
Manlas, it's a boycott, not sanctions.

That's what I meant... doesn't change the point

[Lancer]

paiktis, sure it's a double standard.

So why hasn't Greece invaded? Get the ball rolling...

[Lancer]

Menlas, actually it does. I'm boycotting French stuff. I buy what I want. It has nothing to do with Bush, the US goverment...

It's personal.

[Bereta_Eder]

Because we would have Turkey AND the US backing it (where do you think the Turks get all their weapons from ) or the US simply do nothing and maybe we can't cope with that.

Also because we prefer to improve our economy and standard of living and secure Greek Cypriote future (they're already the richest new EU member) and that means trying to solve the problem through economic/diplomatic means.

[Lancer]

No, you wouldn't have US backing Turkey. There would be war in the streets of Washington, and I'd be there myself.

The EU will never get anywhere. It's backwards from now on. You heard it here first.

[yago]

Menlas, actually it does. I'm boycotting French stuff. I buy what I want. It has nothing to do with Bush, the US goverment...

How can you tell that something is french stuff ?

Are you checking the background of every company you're buying a product from ?

Or do you think, a "made in .... " sign has any relevance ?

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Lancer
No, you wouldn't have US backing Turkey. There would be war in the streets of Washington

Hardly...

Besides, Turkey would have to be far more alianated from the US than what it is now to not get any support.
Also even a neutral stance by the US would be detrimental to Greece given that Turkey has been ammassing weapons all this time (while the poverty of the turkish people is rampant), not to mention a 10 million - 60 million difference in population.

The EU will never get anywhere. It's backwards from now on. You heard it here first.

I don't think so. It comes through quite nicely every given time so far

[Lancer]

Did you know that a French holding company owns Universal Studios? There's Michalin tires...but not Frenches mustard. French wines and water... you get the idea. It's costing France a fortune already, and this is just the begining. The French have counter-bocotted and this is really helping American boycotts gain support.

Keep it up.

Are you aware that American travel to France is WAY off?

Can you say 'b i l l i o n s'?