Turkey must join EU, says Cameron

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...ars-Islam.html

David Cameron today accused critics of Turkey’s membership of the EU of playing on fears of Islam - as he pledged to ‘pave the road from Ankara to Brussels’. In a speech in the Turkish capital the Prime Minister promised to ‘fight’ to help the Islamic state achieve its 50-year goal of EU membership. He said that, by embracing the moderate Muslim nation, the EU can improve relations with the rest of the Islamic world. And he hit out at those who ‘wilfully misunderstand Islam’ in order to oppose Turkey’s membership.

He said: ‘They see no difference between real Islam and the distorted version of the extremists. ‘They think the values of Islam can never be compatible with the values of other religions, societies or cultures. ‘All these arguments are just plain wrong. I want us to be at the forefront of an international effort to defeat them.’ Mr Cameron’s words put him at odds with France, Germany and Tory Right-wingers who believe Turkey may be incompatible with the EU. EU countries are in a position to use their veto to block a move for Turkish accession. But they are now coming under pressure from the U.S. as well as Britain. The Prime Minister hit out at ‘protectionists’ who see Turkey as an ‘economic threat’. And he criticised those who see the world as a ‘clash of civilisations’ in which Turkey must choose sides.

http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-n...re-over-turkey

UKIP's chief spokesman, Nigel Farage MEP, has slammed David Cameron's demands that Turkey get let into the EU as "irresponsible and illegitimate". "He states that those who wish to preserve our culture make him angry. Well, Prime Minister, your cavalier approach to the traditions and history of this country make us all very angry, but your anger can lead to disastrous and irreversible changes to our nation," Mr Farage said. Under EU laws of free movement the people of Turkey would be granted the right to move to Britain, nobody in Britain has ever been asked if they are happy with that. Turkey is a nation whose population is projected to grow to 100million by 2020 by the Council of Europe.

Mr Farage continued: "Worse still, as he knows that Turkish accession will be rejected by France, Germany, Austria and others he is guilty of building up hopes where there are none. "Of course we should be building up trade links, of course we should encourage free movement of capital and goods. Of course we should be politically supportive of a friend and ally, but to do so requires honesty. Not snake oil and insincerity. "Mr Cameron knows that he is flying in the face of the people of Britain by making this grandiose gesture to the Turkey. He knows that his point of view is shared only by a small number of people in the UK, and he knows that he cannot deliver on his demand. "What is more he knows that Turkish membership would change the EU constitutionally so much that it would require a new Treaty and ratification in the UK by referendum under his own 'referendum lock'.. A referendum he knows he would lose."

As usual it is turned on its head by the likes of Cameron as though we are all xenophobes who cannot stand other cultures - wrong Mr Cameron. What people are afraid of is a flood of immigration to the United Kingdom by poor Turks (80 million of them) just as what happened when the Eastern European states joined the European Union. We all know why Turkey wishes to join the EU anyway; money.

To bare in mind that Turkey shares its long border with Iran, Iraq, Syria, Georgia and has a long coastline along the top of Africa - think of the security threat this poses to Europe and our country. The Turkish border is truly massive and I very much doubt they have much control over it.

Thoughts, should Cameron support Turkey in joining the EU?

[Frodo13.]

The fact that the UK has supported Turkish membership into the EU is not exactly breaking news, we've supported them for years. And I actually think that most British people wouldn't actually mind if Turkey joined; we have a lot of British people traveling to Turkey and it's in that sort of way that we don't see the Turkish in that much of a negative light (do you really hear of people going on a summer holiday to Poland). It appeared to me at least, when Cameron is accusing EU members of playing on fears of Islam that he's referring to other countries, not the UK, like Undertaker seemed to be hinting at in his post.

Also, a mass of Turkish immigrants to the UK is unlikely, the Turkish economy is fairly strong and I personally, couldn't see yours and Mr. Farage's predictions actually happening; they are just the usual scare tactics from UKIP.

Saying all this however, Turkey's human rights record, in my opinion, is not up to scratch. The 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus is for many of Cyprus inhabitants not so distant memory yet, and Turkey's induction in the EU, for all those who were evacuated from the North of Cyprus because of the invasion would be an insult.

[Technologic]

It would make going on holiday easier and you're forgetting that turkey is above Egypt....What about Spain, Greece, Italy and France? They stretch over a far greater part of Africa than Turkey

[-:Undertaker:-]

The fact that the UK has supported Turkish membership into the EU is not exactly breaking news, we've supported them for years. And I actually think that most British people wouldn't actually mind if Turkey joined; we have a lot of British people traveling to Turkey and it's in that sort of way that we don't see the Turkish in that much of a negative light (do you really hear of people going on a summer holiday to Poland). It appeared to me at least, when Cameron is accusing EU members of playing on fears of Islam that he's referring to other countries, not the UK, like Undertaker seemed to be hinting at in his post.

That is rather strange, because most British people would rather we not be in the EU in the first place. Whether or not you have noticed (well no you most likely have not) but most British people are fed up with mass immigration - and judging by the fact the Eastern European accession was handled so badly I have litle faith in the idea that the British people support Turkey joining the European Union.

Also, a mass of Turkish immigrants to the UK is unlikely, the Turkish economy is fairly strong and I personally, couldn't see yours and Mr. Farage's predictions actually happening; they are just the usual scare tactics from UKIP.

Saying all this however, Turkey's human rights record, in my opinion, is not up to scratch. The 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus is for many of Cyprus inhabitants not so distant memory yet, and Turkey's induction in the EU, for all those who were evacuated from the North of Cyprus because of the invasion would be an insult.

Turkey is a poor nation. I have been to Turkey on holiday (in one of the richer areas) and we saw numerous beggers walking around, the Turkish houses were delapidated and the waiters themselves told us of the poverty in that country. Eastern Europe is considered to be vastly more developed than Turkey yet that did not prevent hundreds of thousands of them coming over to the United Kingdom did it?

If Eastern Europe had hundreds of thousands coming to here and western Europe, are you really willing to take the risk with Turkey?

It would make going on holiday easier and you're forgetting that turkey is above Egypt....What about Spain, Greece, Italy and France? They stretch over a far greater part of Africa than Turkey

Err you'd still have to board a plane, show your passport - what exactly becomes easier? anyone seriously debating this issue would be speaking about immigration anyway, not about holidays. They [those countries you listed] are closer to Africa yes, but their borders are more patrollable as they are richer nations and are more developed than the likes of Turkey. Although as I outlined in my post, the real concern comes from the borders with Iran, Iraq and Syria.

[Technologic]

It's not that poor, infact Turkey is rather rich. Just because a waiter was trying to con you into a bigger tip doesn't mean they're all beggars in mud huts, they have one of the largest armed forces in NATO and are a strategic partner in the war on terrorism

[-:Undertaker:-]

It's not that poor, infact Turkey is rather rich. Just because a waiter was trying to con you into a bigger tip doesn't mean they're all beggars in mud huts, they have one of the largest armed forces in NATO and are a strategic partner in the war on terrorism

India, China and various other countries also have vast amounts of cash + vast and modern armed forces but their people are poor as is the case with Turkey. The waiter wasn't trying to con us into anything, he was just telling us about his life and about the country in general. He worked in the summer in the tourist industry to support his family and returned home in the winter to his village. Nobody has mentioned mud huts either, but the fact is that if life is better here in the UK and western Europe - they are going to come here.

[Technologic]

India, China and various other countries also have vast amounts of cash + vast and modern armed forces but their people are poor as is the case with Turkey. The waiter wasn't trying to con us into anything, he was just telling us about his life and about the country in general. He worked in the summer in the tourist industry to support his family and returned home in the winter to his village. Nobody has mentioned mud huts either, but the fact is that if life is better here in the UK and western Europe - they are going to come here.

Yes, of course they are, every single one of them. They can all live in Nigel Farage's gaping mouth

[-:Undertaker:-]

Yes, of course they are, every single one of them. They can all live in Nigel Farage's gaping mouth

No real reply then? I have to say, at least Farage does a good job representing the British people which is more than can be said for most other politicians. But hey it doesnt matter, you'll just be one of the many taxpayers taken for mugs who'll end up paying for it all.

[Technologic]

No real reply then?

But hey doesnt matter, you'll just be one of the many mugs who'll end up paying for it all.

No point giving a real reply to a statement that isn't real.

[Robbie]

Not in agreement with this at all. You probably all know that I agree with most of UKIP's policies, and this is just another example of the dangers of its expansion. In my eyes, Turkey is nowhere near developed enough to even think about joining the EU - and as other have said, the Human Rights record and neighbouring countries are quite a concern.

David Cameron is just showing himself to be more and more left-wing as he likes to let on. The ideals of the Conservative party have been shattered even more and I'd imagine a large tory vote will now be going to UKIP as Dave continues to alienate the traditional Conservative supporters. Using the race card is just laughable aswell.