Read the below articles and blog the potential advantages to the UK if Turkey where to jo



Should the European Union include Turkey? Results so far:

Yes 63% 100 votes Total: 158 votes No 37% 58 votes
Why not?

There are a number of arguments in favor of Turkey's admission.

First of all, the Ottoman Empire-despite its negative sides- was traditionally one of the first examples of multiculturalism, because the Turks have lived there with various ethnic groups for centuries. If Turkey joins the EU, Europe will be a multicultural unit where Christians, Jews, Muslims and other religions could live together without serious conflicts. As the matter of fact, Europe is like this right now anyhow.

Secondly, if Turkey joins the European Union, it will bring us closer to the Asian continent. With Turkey joining, the EU would become a global player and could confront the USA with their own ideas on safety for example in the middle east. In addition to that, an EU membership would further push the reforms in Turkey. Otherwise, Turkey might orient itself more to the Arabic-Islamic world and cause a destabilization of the region. Things are simple: If West turns its backs on Turkey, then Turkey will have to look at the East.

The birth rate in Turkey is also decreasing comparing to the past years, therefore there isn't such fear as an over-immigration wave towards the European Countries.

Some people are arguing about that Turkey doesn't geographically belongs to European Continent, but to Asia.

So , can anyone explain to me, how Armenia which is located eastern than Turkey, belongs geographically to Europe then-all geography books of the recent years are telling that.

Finally, if Turkey is admitted to the European Union, this can help Europe to end racism itself (what is this irrational discrimination between East and West anyway? . Allowing such country entering into the EU-a country which is a highly percentage moslem country- would help proving that the EU is not a what they call it -> " a christian club".

There are many internal problems in Turkey, such as violations of the civil rights,or a weak economy, but can anyone show me where is for example-actually a REAL democracy located in any other country in the world right now.

Hiding behind the mask of a supposed privileged socialized society ,doesn't mean anything at all. We all know, that no more , no less, we are same hostages of our civilisation.

We don't have the right to forbid to the Turkish citizens, their equal right to go forward.

We should trust their intelligence and respect their rights to proceed,evolving.

Why shouldn't we open the doors to Turkey?

The question is: Do they really want us?

Learn more about this author, Maria-Lydia Kiriakidu.
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No

1 of 3 by Jamie Mascola Created on: February 06, 2008

There were cries of rejoice from every corner of the Hellenic Seas. It was in 2004 that Cyprus (among several others) was inducted into the EU. After centuries of conflict and foreign rule, the wayward island nation was a big step closer to returning to the country that had so sorely missed it. As it happens, I was living on the Greek island of Rhodes, no more than 10 km from the Turkish coast when the delegates rejected our latter-mentioned neighbor's claim. Two great factors stand adamantly pitted against Turkey's potential entry into the European Union. And they are both forms of discrimination. And one is certainly more palatable than the other.

The official reason given by the European representatives was that Turkey's government was deemed to be a theocracy. The Turkish parliament has a long-standing history towards secular rule. Despite the aims of the ruling AKP (justice and Development Party) to westernize the country's economy, their roots in the national Islamic church were not favorably viewed by the EU board. A theocracy is one of the forms of governing body that is considered unacceptable by the admission standards of the European Union. This comes from the age old adage that one should not combine the media of church and state. Given the propensity for disaster when considering the acts of past European nations governed by the church (particularly with respect to Turkey and the crusades), they might be correct in erring for the side of caution. Islamic nationalists in Turkey may view this declaration as flagrant racism. But that ugly notion may find a greater thread of truth in the following matter.

Although Greece has had a long-standing feud with Turkey, it was proven in a national poll conducted three months before the vote on Turkey's possible induction that the Greek populace was in overwhelming favor of Turkey's enfranchisement. The inclusion of Turkey under the EU banner would lift considerable financial and military demands from the government budget. A budget that was facing severe deficit encumbrance as a result of the incurred building costs for the 2004 Olympic games in Athens. In fact, it was a then-ailing Germany who protested that Turkey be denied entry at all cost. Germany has a minority of Turkish immigrants that can be counted in the millions. In a country infamous for its onus placed on nationalism and national identity, there was a great backlash from the civilian population when it was first proposed that Turkey be included. Green Party politics had depleted much of the national reserves in an attempt to remedy the environmental catastrophe that was East Germany after nearly forty years of harsh Soviet rule. By placing such emphasis on this issue in their budget, the reigning party failed to foresee the fallout from the closure of so many "unfit" factories. This resulted in an unemployment boom that then ranked the Germans, uncharacteristically , as the worst job market in the European Union. The free movement of Turkish nationals to a then depleted Germany would have resulted in an even further economic depression and perhaps even civil unrest.

Euro-centricity is a relatively new social issue for us here in North America. It is claimed to be the spawn of the biased (caucasian) elite with the goal of keeping the doctrines of the education system focussed primarily (even solely) upon "white" history. Within continental Europe, this notion exists in a similar manner of distaste, but from the reverse angle. Our sense of national identity, no matter how well ingrained, will never equal that of indigenous Europeans. Each country has it's own language(s), traditions, monarchies, social beliefs and political climate. Just because they share a currency and economic strategy (no matter how loosely) does not nullify any of the tendencies towards resistance by the Union's respective members towards the conglomeration of an impending pan-national "European" identity. And judging by the results of the last Turkish attempt(s) for entry into the union, this ideal/unideal picture does not include them. If history has in fact taught the European union an even greater lesson than that of the conflict that can arise from the mingling of church and state, then it is that it can be even more costly to underestimate the destructive potential of a Germany that is tired, poor, hungry and racially incensed.

 
Read the article about Pompey going back into administration.

Blog the characteristics that you would you like to see in the new owner(s)?

Portsmouth enter administration & are docked 10 points Portsmouth Football Club have been penalised 10 points after entering administration for the second time in three seasons.

The deduction puts the Championship club just above the relegation zone.

Portsmouth had been issued with a winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs on 3 January, freezing the club's bank accounts.

The administrator will be Trevor Birch of PKF, a firm with a track record of dealing with clubs in administration.

Portsmouth had asked the court to appoint Andrew Andronikou , who oversaw the club's last administration two years ago, and is currently handling the same process with Pompey's parent company.

The administration order enables Portsmouth to access their bank accounts and continue trading while Birch, who was proposed as administrator by HMRC, searches for new owners.

In a statement, HMRC said it had been concerned about a possible conflict of interest had Andonikou been appointed.

The statement continued: "HMRC is pleased that the Court agreed with our view that the creditors of any business have a right to expect that the administrator in these circumstances is completely independent."

Mr Birch said he hoped the club's supporters would also be happy to see a new face in charge.

Trevor Birch
  • Former professional footballer with Shrewsbury and Chester
  • As Chelsea chief executive brokered Roman Abramovich's £180m takeover of the club
  • Has also served as chief executive at Leeds United, Everton, Derby County and Sheffield United
"The intention is to try and sell the club as a going concern," he said.

"I'm used to dealing with clubs in crisis. You could say most of the Championship is in crisis, with 30% of clubs paying wages in excess of 100% of their turnover.

"You have to travel hopefully and confidently. Maybe the new appointment will encourage someone to come out of the woodwork and bid [for the club]."

During the hearing at the High Court, it was revealed that Portsmouth currently owe around £2m to business creditors, as well as a similar sum to the Inland Revenue in unpaid tax.

Continue reading the main story “By going into administration other opportunities will come up for investors, who would have been reluctant to buy the club with a winding-up order hanging over it”

Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt Among those creditors are fellow football clubs West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bristol City, as well as the Football League itself. Portsmouth City Council is owed £78,000.

It also emerged electricity and gas suppliers have been threatening to cut off power to the club's Fratton Park stadium for non-payment.

And, although Pompey are set to be docked 10 points for going into administation, they could lose further points at the discretion of the Football League as a result of it happening for the second time in such a short period of time.

Remarkably, this is the third time Portsmouth have gone into administration in recent years. The club also went into administration in December 1998, prior to being taken over by the Serbian businessman Milan Mandaric.

Pompey then became the first Premier League side to enter administration in February 2010, following which they were relegated to the Championship.

Going into administration for a second time in such a short period was "disappointing" but the only way the club could go forward, according to Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt.

"By going into administration other opportunities will come up for investors, who would have been reluctant to buy the club with a winding-up order hanging over it," she said.

Earlier this week it emerged 
Portsmouth had received their parachute payment from the Premier League early, however, chief executive David Lampitt told BBC Radio Solent it would be up to the administrator how money in Pompey's bank account - understood to be around £2.5m - is spent.