Turkey’s European Aspirations and its Cyprus Dilemma

最近在聯合報上看到經建會引用某個美國研究機構的數字,

後來發現這個研究機構很有名, 記得好像被列為全球最有影響力的智庫think tank

因為華府採用他們的報告蠻多的,那現在美國還是很有影響力,所以這個think tank 的報告

變得舉足輕重(成語這樣用對嗎??)

這篇是接續Wallace 上星期土耳其的感想和下次的國家主題月Greece

http://www.brookings.edu/events/2010/0401_turkey_aspirations.aspx

Event Summary

Turkey's difficult process of negotiations with the European Union has been further complicated by the stalemate in Cyprus. Talks between the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Demetris Hristofias have so far failed to produce a breakthrough. The presidential election in Turkish Cypriot-controlled northern Cyprus is set for April 18, and the likely victory of nationalist prime minister Derviş Eroğlu will significantly diminish prospects for a historic deal to resolve the island’s division.

To discuss the current state of Turkey-E.U. relations, with a special focus on recent developments in Cyprus, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings hosted a briefing on April 1 with renowned author Hugh Pope. Since 2007, Mr. Pope has served as the Turkey/Cyprus project director for International Crisis Group. He was previously a foreign correspondent for 25 years, most recently spending a decade as Turkey, Middle East and Central Asia correspondent for The Wall Street Journal. His books include Turkey Unveiled: A History of Modern Turkey (1997), Sons of the Conquerors: the Rise of the Turkic World (2005), and Dining with al-Qaeda: Three Decades Exploring the Many Worlds of the Middle East (2010).

Brookings Turkey Project Director Ömer Taşpınar provided introductory remarks and moderated the discussion. After the program, Mr. Pope took audience questions.

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土耳其和Greece也有情結, 主要就在Cyprus 這個島國, 一分為二, 各有背後支持的國家

之前也提到了, 土耳其希望加入歐盟, 其實在很多國家之間是很有爭議的.

尤其是前奧匈帝國, 奧地利反對很大, 他們認為他們是用人民的生命去阻擋鄂圖曼土耳其入侵

歐洲, 那知一百多年後, 歐盟考慮要對土耳其張開雙手.. 他們覺得西歐國家其實在這件事情上

沒有history..

所以像Economists 也認為土耳其要加入歐盟, 可能沒那麼快, 但是在credit crunch 之後, 情勢就不是那麼的明朗了.. 不知道有沒有人有更updated information