Another Greco Turkish War?
- Thread starter davidoga
- Start date
Beatmaster
New Member
Between Greece and Turkey there have always been rivalry and some saber rattling however in this day and age both need each other more then ever.
The have some problems about little pieces of land but both consider a war over this as totally BS.
Besides that they are part of the EU so besides the normal political power talks and the occasionally finger they will be good neighbors.
Both have way to many ties with each other so a war would put them in a very bad spot which has way more problems then their dispute ever could provide.
the road runner
Active Member
Cyprus has been the longest "land dispute in the world." There have been instances of Turkey trying to drill for oil/gas off Cyprus. If anything this will be the cause of a war in my opinion. Cyprus/Greece and Israel have formed closer defence and energy ties.
Myself being of Cypriot decent ,hopes for a peaceful solution on this issue.
Greek Cyprus, Israel draw closer, presenting challenges for Turkey
Myself being of Cypriot decent ,hopes for a peaceful solution on this issue.
Greek Cyprus, Israel draw closer, presenting challenges for Turkey
Turkey is not a member of the EU. It isn't even an official candidate for membership, though the possibility of joining has been discussed.
exPrivate
Member
Actually Turkey is an official candidate for membership in the EU and has almost half of the chapters for negotiating the membership with Bruxelles closed and signed. However the other chapters are far more crucial for Turkey`s membership and the political opposition against Turkey is rising in most EU countries, particularly its neighbours.
On the other hand we can easily understand how the Turkish elite feels endlessly negotiating since early 1970ies while most East European countries had meanwhile joined the EU, the most recent example being Croatia.
Maybe Beatmaster had in mind NATO and not EU...
On the other hand we can easily understand how the Turkish elite feels endlessly negotiating since early 1970ies while most East European countries had meanwhile joined the EU, the most recent example being Croatia.
Maybe Beatmaster had in mind NATO and not EU...
Ananda
The Bunker Group
Turkey economic conditions is much better compared to many EU mambers this days. I believe that reality in addition on constant negotiating with EU, Sarkozy remarks and French hostilities with Turkey, will put end of Turkish willingness to join EU. They will stay with NATO though.
At least That the mood that I got if reading many Turkish forumers on different forums.
exPrivate
Member
You see, It is not just the economy about Turkey and EU. Turkey is a totally different country compared with the other EU members, different culture and all that history between Turkey and Europe for centuries. The differences within EU are already too much and if more are to be added it will disintegrate the Union for sure.
Beatmaster
New Member
Partly true:
Turkey became a founding member of the Council of Europe in 1949, applied for associate membership of the EEC (predecessor of the European Union) in 1959 and became an associate member in 1963. After decades of political negotiations, Turkey applied for full membership of the EEC in 1987, became an associate member of the Western European Union in 1992, reached a Customs Union agreement with the EU in 1995 and has been in formal accession negotiations with the EU since 2005
Although Turkey is not a official member of the EU its being considered as a EU member on a political and economical level since it agreed to the Customs Union, and its also being considered as a associate EU member thus being a EU member.
Turkey signed a Customs Union agreement with the EU in 1995 and was officially recognized as a candidate for full membership on 12 December 1999
Turkey is one key contributor members of NATO if i am not mistaken and is what? 50 years member?Actually Turkey is an official candidate for membership in the EU and has almost half of the chapters for negotiating the membership with Bruxelles closed and signed. However the other chapters are far more crucial for Turkey`s membership and the political opposition against Turkey is rising in most EU countries, particularly its neighbours.
On the other hand we can easily understand how the Turkish elite feels endlessly negotiating since early 1970ies while most East European countries had meanwhile joined the EU, the most recent example being Croatia.
Maybe Beatmaster had in mind NATO and not EU...
This same applies for Greece they both singed the charter at the same moment.
Anyway my point is that Greece has legit claims on the disputed piece of land, however Turkey has equally legit claims.
For Greece its the claim that the land was originally ancient Greek territory however after the many invasions by loads of tribes, nations and empires it was finally granted independence by its last "invader" the British in 1960 (Zürich and London Agreement) later in the 70's if i am not mistaken the Greeks did a coup to unite the island back to Greece.
According to the history books the ONE and only legit claim Turkey has is that they must protect Cyprus and maintain its independence according to the Treaty of Guarantee.
Still that does not give them the right to annex Cyprus if they wanted to because they do not have a legit claim, if anyone has the right to annex Cyprus then its Greece.
However if you look at it in a very basic way then BOTH Greece and Turkey lost their right to make claims on Cyprus the day the Zurich and London Treaty was signed because that was the day Cyprus did become independent which was accepted by Greece and Turkey.
So if Turkey is going to annex Cyprus then it will be a part of Cyprus where one part remains Greek/Cyprus and the other part will become Turk.
But doing so will end this dispute so perhaps its better for all the involved parties. I could imagine that Greece would agree to a 50/50 deal, as it will end years and years of troubles.
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Beatmaster
New Member
Its True that Turkey is not exactly happy with Sarkozy and several other key figures of the EU however Turkey made clear some weeks ago that it DOES want to join the EU.
They have been "special" or "aspirant" member since the EEC and it takes alot more for them to abandon the join EU idea.
Also from a economic, and security POV the EU is vital for Turkey just the way Turkey is a key member to the EU.
The are not a full member and they still have a LONG way to go however they have been involved in the EU from the very beginning.
So in that regard they can be considered as a key member.
Granted the economic mess in the EU and the so called new budget rules will make final talks on full membership increasingly difficult.
exPrivate
Member
When we are discussing the Greek and Turkish claims over Cyprus, we should have in mind the wish of the Cypriots as well. AFAIK Greek Cypriots do not want to join Greece especially under the current circumstances. But I also heard that a growing number of Turkish Cypriots also don`t want to be annexed by Turkey. Most of the population seems to prefer a united Cyprus without so much interference on the side of the "mother countries".
Beatmaster
New Member
Jup thats exactly what we see at this point.