Turks interviewed on EU for French state television.

[tolgaoztemur]

EU has not much things to contrubute to Turkey, plus they will have negative efffect. We should be fool to enter this union.

[mikealphalimaindia]

We are simply feeding of this idea of entering Eu because it makes us excel and also halt the backward thinking minds in R.T.That is why secular want to go on with it .It simply gives us a reason to thrieve.Turks usually thrieve out of doggedness.This doggedness make us go beyond our expectations and by the time we stop and look we are model country that we want to be and we don't need any bodies union, or alliance etc.

[tunc34]

its funny coz every person who criticizes Turkey entering the EU are minority trash nations such as Greeks, Armenians, Kurds and Cypriots. Build a fckn bridge and get the fuck over it.. The past can stay in the past. Our country is flourishing right now and Europe is scared of our power and capability.. Scared of another Ottoman rising...

[polopolak]

Turks = Heroin dealers and Prostitution in Europe

[vineyardst1]

@sspersian Why doesn't youtube bann racist assholes like you?

[sspersian]

@vineyardst1 i was jocking lol i like turks in fact.i wish luck for turks .i am iranian turkman myself.

[TheGuerilla66]

Turks dont need EU, EU going more and more bad, show Greece ! ; )

If Turks made mass-killing with Armenians, then there will not be a Armanian !

The Turks were 600 years Emperor and have the longest great Culture.

[hajkakane]

Turks are not part of the European group..

1 turks deny the mass-killing of Armenians in  ...purpose to take land areal.

2 Turks persecute minorities and are 200years back in history with their ideas

3 They will be burden for Europe

[PatrioticTuranist]

These Turkey-EU talks are hopeless, Washington and Neocon Zionists are just putting corrupt governments in power in Turkey to destablize other powers, including the radical AKP Jihadist party (which seeks to turn Turkey into another Saudi Arabia). There has to be a more secular, democratic government that won't be a bitch of EU/US and other powers and then Turkey can be a stronger country.

[GodFORZALoLhA]

i hate the french frefricanch frafrican from france frefricance frafrica lol ha

[nouari69]

imfao !

[GodFORZALoLhA]

rolf !

[gezerbey]

And that says a moron who cannot even write "stupid".

[visitor321]

Turkey is ranked 17th in the World Economy Ranking out of 250 countries, its in the G20 top industrialised countries in the world.

Its military power is ranked number 8 in the world. Its been a member of NATO for decades. Really with the world becoming more competitive, Europe will have to be crazy to not want Turkey to fully join the EU.

[visitor321]

Those guys are pathetic idiots!!

They make the French look bad around the world actually :o( complete idiots,

This is why the rest of the whole world don't understand the French!

[remedy1984]

Fuck the Rothschilds owned EU. Turks are Turks, we are not a colony in some familys empire. The Europeans like this shit because they are used to being ruled and fucked by others. Not the Turks. We should have control over our finances, not an independant body or international banking cartels.

Independance is our character. K.Ataturk.

[mindzestep]

There are absolutely no guaranties that within 10 or 15 years Turkey will comply with the Copenhagen criteria (minority respect etc.....). God is the only one who really knows what Turkey and the EU will be like in the future. Therefore I regard these prospective as bad propaganda aiming to force the Europeans to admit this poor, Islamist and archaic country which GDP is TODAY ¼ of what it is in the EU. That is reality!

[mindzestep]

Let s not forget that half of its GDP today is part of Drug traffic, Criminality and that its economy has been for a while deeply rooted and linked with the mafia...

Democracy is therefore just a Word aiming to please the opinion of the Europeans, but not much.

Definitively No to Turkey and No to Turkish. I m not sharing my future with these people

[kokoshmusun]

Well you have Italy, Bulgaria, Romania so you don't really need Turkish mafia. And you have your archaic mind so you don't need Turkish archaism. Good luck.

[LazDamar]

mindlez, Turks live in a rich multicultural multireligious society. They've no need to be part of the EU's cultural monotony. All EU nation states were founded on ethnic & religious homogeniety, intolerant, racist, & demand total assimilation. The EU can keep its racists & their antisocial behavior that costs your societies so much. EU society is too uncivilized & primitive for Turkey.

[ArtGaul]

notice how strong opposition to Turkey in the EU is in Europe especially Western Europe. Also look how many countries hate Turkey around it. The Russians because you are ridiculously pro-american, the greeks because of all the atrocities and years of occupations you committed against them, the armenians because of the genocide which you still haven't recognized, and also Syrians for taking the Alexandretta Province. You have also made a mess out of the Balkans and Cyprus as well.

[kakvostava]

Sure, in 10-15 years Turkey will comply with EU regulation more than any Eastern European country, and it's GDP will be the same as in Western Europe. And then the EU will be dying for Turkey, but Turks will proudly reject membership. I guess this guy forgot to take his medication today. Hookah-pipe dreaming is not reality.

[LazDamar]

I studied EU Law in at a Univ. in England in the 90s. I concluded then, & feel the same way now, the EU is not going to admit Turkey. But, that's ok. We're smart hard working people and we are our own best hope (caresizsen, care sensin). We just need to work together and not against each other.

(PS - Dont' mean to be bossy :) In my work, we write in affirmative positive language-we shall overcome -- rather than in shoulds or coulds or wishes. Turkey will continue to move forward!)

[kokoshmusun]

I like your dreams and prospects for Turkey. I hope all of us can have this positive outlook.

[LazDamar]

Thanks koko. I've started to do my share and am supporting several promising students from poor families in remote villages. If everyone does what they can to support education, the EU will be entirely unnecessary within a generation. It can be done, one person at a time.

[kokoshmusun]

I completely agree. I am about to get my doctoral degree, and hopefully I will land a job real soon. Then I will do the same as you. Thanks for inspiring me.

[LazDamar]

Now that the population has taken ownership of their country and its government, those of us who have done well have to reach out to those who have been left behind and help them move forward.

Imagine what would happen if every adult in those demonstrations mentored a young student in grade school in an outlying village. It could change the world-literally it could.

[LazDamar]

The citizens must take responsibility for demanding their govt listen and respond to them. The recent demonstrations are a magnificent healthy democratic response to a govt run amok. This is fantastic & a huge change over the political passificism of the late 70s.

[LazDamar]

I don't know if things have changed, but it used to be that the politicians came from the upper classes and answered to no one. That must change.

Also, Ataturk said that a nation's greatest task is education. He was correct. Those in the farthest reaches of the country must also have access to education and economic opportunity, or they become isolated, despondent & easy targets for manipulation by outside forces (i.e., fundamentalists & others).

[LazDamar]

I've read the comments to this video and will chip in my 2 cents.

Democracy requires an educated politically active population to whom the politicians must answer. In a democracy, the politicians work for the citizens, not the other way around.

[LazDamar]

Membership on anything other than equal terms is wholly unacceptable. Turks are not, and will not be, second class citizens within their own customs union--what a ridiculous proposal! Equal terms, or nothing.

And, don't forget, sometimes, the less you want to be a part of a group, the more they want you. People are strange that way.

[msamcbb]

EU has really nothing to offer to turk lands

[jsapceknsce]

The world thinks women who wear headscarfs are treated as second class people.If you think about the women who walk behind their husbands and no voice of their own to be heard I have to agree with them.

[akallabror]

I'm actually quite conflicted as to if we should try to join or not. All this compromise is viewed as a gesture of weakness, rather than an act of progressivness. It results in a paradox where the more we try to reach their goals, the more we fuel the nationalism that will ultimately make us fail to reach them. I agree with previous posts, the goal shouldn't be to join the EU, the goal should be the EU wanting us to join.

[jklasdfjdfksl]

i dont know if the europeans are mature enough to accept a predominately muslim country. for example, europeans want turks to recognize the "armenian genocide", while they themselves have yet to recognize the devestation of their imperialism. why shouldnt france also accept the "algerian genocie" or britain the "indian genocide". they are saying, admit your culture is inferior to ours, then you can join. i dont think will be a partnership until the EU nations can learn to respect diversity.

[1984198419841984]

Hayir turkey52, akilli olmuycam lol.

[kitabim]

kardeşim neredesin? yeni account var mı???

[turkey52]

1984 akıllı ol...

[Turkiyey]

I agree that there should be a more secular goverment in Turkey but I don't want a corrupt goverment in place. Besides Erdogan I think is not the Erdogan of Erbakan but a definitly a more moderate Erdogan. And if other Erbakan supporters in AKP does anything stupid our strong military will not allow that rest assured.

[1984198419841984]

Yes I agree. Iranian and Saudi Arabian influence in Turkey has grown since the electoral victory of the AK government. The situation will worsen if Erdogan, or one of his Islamist fellow Parliamentarians is elected to Cankaya.

The general elections in November are arguably going to be the most important in modern Turkish history. I hope that both CHP and DYP gain more then 10% of the votes so they can both enter the parliament. Otherwise, AK will have a majority again.

[1984198419841984]

I don't think we should fear an Iranian Islamic revolution, because most people in Turkey are secular. However, I fear a the slow change in Turkish society and politics. The last 5 years, Sezer put a break on AKP, but what happens now? If AKP elect an Islamist, then I will be very scared.

kitabim, it is unfortunate that Turkey's principles are still being questioned. I blame economic failure. Ataturk's reforms were based on the assumption that Turkey would develop into a rich country.

[faiky1]

nem utlu turkum diyene, profesorum chok guzel soyledi

[fckhln]

Handle your fear that AKP is not to secularism.They have no problem with secularism.Moroever almost all ppl have no problem with it,here in Türkiye.Just proceed...

So let's hear about those ultra-secularist ones smashing human rights,democracy,freedom of religion.That is the real failure ;)

[1984198419841984]

Youare correct, if Turkey joins the EU it would be one of the greatest developments in the history of the world. It would put an end to the theory of a clash of civilizations, and Turkey would act as a role model for other Turkic and Muslim states to adapt to the modern, democratic and rational world.

[rabelai2006]

Hi. First of all I love your country. It has such a natural beauty and rich culture. And you are 120% right that it would add to the color of the EU. But there seems to be two opinions, where Turkey thinks EU doesn't want to join with you because you are not European Christians, the other opinion that you are not adopting to EU state structure. I have to say that I agree with the EU view except that admitting to the Armenian genocide, I don't see the British admitting their wrong doings in Iraq.

[1984198419841984]

Before 1991, Turkey's position in the world was clear. We were America's Cold War ally. However, since then, Turkey's position is unclear, and what I fear is that unless we join the EU, as soon as possible, Turkey would flow under Iranian influence.

[rabelai2006]

I agree with you completely. I think this nationalism is the root of Turkey not having a clear definition of what it is, European state with European culture that belongs in the EU(I completely agree with this) or just this semi-Westernized, Muslim country on the outskirts of Europe. The nationalism breaks out as to reach a self-esteem and pride, belonging somewhere. This is dangerous, in fact exactly the same thing happened in Germany after treaty of Versaille and led to the Nazi's

[rabelai2006]

I honestly and truly believe that EU and Turkey coming together will be one of the ten most important historical events in HISTORY. EU is becoming a super-power for peace, it's so obvious, coming independent defence Euroarmy, biggest trade market, highest GDP, world leading science, social and educataion society, Euro perhaps already the nr. 1 currency and a culture that reaches the West, East and Middle East. Fix Turkey and join. Simple as that.

[1984198419841984]

Interesting points Kitabim.

What frieghtens me about the situation in Turkey today is the religious fundamentalism and growing nationalism. The nationalism in Turkey, is a very ugly and dangerous one. There is nothing wrong with a person loving her country, but this patriotism has got out of hand in Turkey. The murder of Dink, the prosecution of, and threats aimed at Pamuk and etc are all symptoms of this evil.

[1984198419841984]

It is understandable that certain people in Turkey are fed-up with the EU, but we should understand the anxiety of Europe in admitting Turkey into the Union. We are a culturally quite different country, with a huge population and a poor economy.

Hopefully, in 6-8 years, Turkey will be admitted into the EU and the efforts of Atturk will have been concluded.

[iko73]

people has lost the passion for EU, the last numbers show that only 19% supports an EU membership.