merlin

Extract from Zaman News Agency....

Messages coming from members of the European Union (EU), which has undergone a critical process following the European Constitution rejection in France and The Netherlands, paved the way for interpretations suggesting that Turkey's dreams are fading and doubts about them in the West are increasing.

British newspaper, The Guardian focused on the EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday in which expressions of some views regarding the greatest damage by the referenda results was towards Turkey. The Guardian's article asserted that France has held off its 40-year hopes for Turkish accession to the Union. Another British newspaper, The Financial Times claimed that the foreign minister's meeting has increased doubts about Turkey's EU membership. The Independent also wrote that whether or not Turkey will begin negotiations has been blurred by "controversial statements" issued by Paris.

Elsewhere in Germany, Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has warned, the EU might "shut the doors" on Turkey; however, this could come at a tremendous cost. An alternative option for Turkey to become a Western society according to Fisher poses either a "crises or worse". Another warning came from the EU Commission member Gunter Verheugen that Turkey's membership should not be turned into an issue. This would be a betrayal of the promises given to Turkey, he
said.