Turkey

EU enlargement commissioner-designate vows to keep Turkish talks going

European Commissioner-designate for EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule promised on Tuesday (January 12th) that the bloc will continue talks on Turkey’s accession despite opposition from some members, including France and Germany. “I intend to go ahead with accession negotiations with Turkey. They are the best leverage we have …

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Turkey and Russia on way to ‘strategic partnership’

Turkey and Russia will set up a high-level strategic cooperation working group Wednesday when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pays a working visit to Moscow. Accompanied by five Cabinet members and a group of businessmen, the prime minister aims to boost bilateral relations, especially in the economic field. Turkey’s …

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Turkish PM not to attend Davos forum this year

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that he would honor his word and would not attend this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos of Switzerland. “Once I give my word on something, it’s done. I said ‘I will never come to Davos again,’ so I …

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Bulgaria Socialists Stir Again Turkey EU Bid Controversy

The Bulgarian official, who caused an uproar after threatening to block Turkey’s application to join the European Union unless it pays out billions of euros in compensation for displaced people, has been suspected to speak for the whole government. “Bozhidar Dimitrov’s statement is a diplomatic gaffe, but it is hardly …

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Germany to fulfill EU promises as Turkey continues reforms, FM says

‘Whatever is written in the coalition government contract is valid. Turkey’s integration into the EU is in Germany’s interest,’ says German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. ‘This is, however, an open-ended process, not an automatic one. I am sure the Turkish government will keep up with reforms’Germany will stick to the …

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Romanian ambassador to Berlin: “Romania ‘under stress’ but will abide by agreements”

The economic crisis has put Romanian political leadership under pressure, but this should not distract the government from complying with its international obligations, Romanian ambassador to Berlin Lazăr Comănescu said. Commenting on the loss of a confidence vote which sanctioned the end of the grand coalition government of Emil Boc, …

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Gül: Turkey walks stridently toward EU

Turkish President Abdullah Gül said Monday that Turkey was proceeding toward the European Union in a determined way. “We can be more hopeful in 2010,” Gül said. He added that whether Turkey became a full member was a different issue. On the Cyprus issue, Gül said that the EU was …

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