"The Union for the Mediterranean"? Did Sarkozy have this idea because of - or thanks to - Turkey ?

Question

Most of Turks are logically sceptical about this concept, because this French President is well known for his "feelings" towards Turkey...

Could it be simply a trial of convincing Turks not to join EU , as an alternative ?...

http://www.france24.com/en/20080713-union-mediterranean-born-mediterranean-summit&navi=MONDE

http://www.france24.com/en/20080711-union-mediterranean-paris-sarkozy-north-africa

What's your opinion ?

PS : By the way, do I have to mention, for those who don't know me yet , that I am against Turkey's entry into EU ?...

And I know I am not the only one...

Answer 1

From the point on Kaddafi pitched his Bedouin  tent in the heart of Paris no one can talk about the greatness or future greatness of France. Just to pinch a few million dollars from a dictator they let his tent rest on their pride. And anything French themselves designed doesnt have much value for me. I'm totally objective here. So called Mediterranean Union is as robust as the cars French make. They soon break for good.

And about the other countries where Mediterranean Union applies? I've been to the "most developed" of them all, Tunisia, and I'm really not exaggerating, they need 40 more years (not 30 or 35 but 40) to catch up with Turkey. The saddest of all is regular Tunisians speak French among themselves. The likes of Tunisia are the only countries France may direct as they like to a puppet union

Answer 2

vasiliki for your information Turks also protected jewish during holocaust and before it, during ottoman empire jewish were living in peace even in jerusalem...and Ä° just wonder why Turks should be worried about Sarkosy President and his politics wich are already well known.. as Republic Turkey should be concern more about its development in all senses, be a strong country technologically, economically, with good education for everyone, united, concerned about keep their natural resources and dont be care about be part of EU, is well known that it is just a religious membership..if you are cristian wellcome if not you are not!!! so Turkish as a nation must be proud of who they are and be on their own...of course would be good if they could travel around europe with out visa to enhance bussines, be international student or whatever...but Turks should never beg for this membership at all they dont need that....so the first thing is ignore the view of a one sided president like Sarkosy but be good political and keep the relationship with france and rest of europe.. they are good turist of Turkey anyhow...

Answer 3

Ophelia said it well,

Sarkozy has Jewish backround,he know that EU countries will opposed of Israel being in EU so he is such a supporter of Mediterranean Union....

I believe that his love of his heritage is stronger than his opposing to Turkey....

As a Greek, i have seen his actions of supporting Greece,which is because Greeks helped his grandfather survive Holocaust.

P.S:i wonder why the thumb down?because i said tha MU has nothing to do with the opposition of Sarkozy for Turkey entring EU????LOL you are hilarious,do you wanted with force to has to do with Turkey?No,the world is not going around Turkey,neither there is a kind of campain against you...get over it...

Answer 4

We don't want to be in the EU or the UM, we're better off without any of their "support".

Answer 5

The Mediteranean Union has nothing to do with Turkey & I can tell you that this is official. This union is not an alternative or substitute to the EU. Actually it is a very nice initiative on behalf of the President of France, a country which has strong historical ties with Maghreb and other arabic countries. If theTurks have reservations about it, nobody can oblige them to particapte though.

Answer 6

Hi,

we  want to join  neither EU nor MU ,we want and will join  Shangai Coorperation Union ( SCO ) because our friends and brothers are the member of this organisation.

http://www.sectsco.org/

Answer 7

There are a lot of things about Sarkozy that I don't understand:

How can the French accept the fact that he lied to get elected (acted as if he had a good working relation with his ex wife). If marriage weren't so important, he wouldn't fake it anyway.

How could the Algerians welcome him with open arms when he denied that France did wrong in Algers and refused to apologize for it.

How can Erdoğan attend the meeting after all the opposition Sarkozy presented against Turkey in EU?

If I could understand all these, I would make a comment about this MU. Failing that, I will keep on following the events.

Answer 8

I indeed understand Sarko's attempt, He is trying to create another power that France will control, by all that way France will still be an important member of EU.

If France is out, I go for the UM and Turkey's membership. However, this musta been the establishment of the Medi. States...

Answer 9

I don't think so.

France has excellent relations not only with the EU countries of the Mediterranean but also to the Arabic countries in the region (better relations than any other EU country). The countries of the Mediterranean are extremely important for many reasons.

France is not a super power anymore and Sarkozy just wants his country to get more important and wants France to play a better role in global politics. If you want you can call this megalomania à la Française.

The Mediterranean Union can't possibly be an alternative for the EU. There can't be a freedom of movement and residence between the member states of the MU for instance, because this would be against EU law.

You don't have to fear that Turkey could join the EU. The great majority of the EU citizens don't want freedom of movement and residence for Turkish citizens. If Turkey became a member of the EU such a right could not be denied to the Turkish people because the EU has to treat all of his citizens equally and any discrimination because of the citizenship is forbidden. I guess there is no problem for the EU with citizens of Western Turkey. However, they certainly don't want that the majority of South Eastern Turkey moves to EU what they certainly would do considering the fact that these people are looking for a better life in Europe and western parts of Turkey anyway.

Answer 10

I doubt it.

Nicolas Sarkozy has a Jewish backgroung. He is not typical French. He is pro-Israel, likes American way, and is Turkey-friendly. if anything this is in Turkey's interest as Turkey and Israel are allies.

Answer 11

why is turkey part of europe? i never understood...isnt it in asian? lol and turkish people do not look european they look more like arabs and east indians oh  ya and theyre not christians like all other euro countries

Answer 12

It's possible.  I do believe, however, that Sarkozy doesn't like the Turks...actually he HATES the Turks.  I have many possibilities as to why, but I think everybody has heard these explanations atleast some time or another.  In my own personal opinion, I think he could be scheming of what you said, but it's hard to know when it comes to politics.  Politicians intentions always change and it's hard to determine why they make certain decisions.

Answer 13

I can't understand why France needs a union as such, except maybe, Sarkozy isn't content with having a scadalous private life but also wants to be the big boy in Europe. He is a hilarious figure if you ask me, he's like the "Napoléon le Petit" i.e. Louis Napoléon. Sarkozy, with his comical, absurd, upstart behaviour wants to make France a superpower. Surely France needs more than some lousy union to be a superpower, but at least Sarkozy will give that impression to the rest of the world. France has always been a country trying to look greater than it is.

Guess who will be running the show in this union? Yes, I'm sure Sarkozy will be travelling all around the Mediterranean like a movie star, preaching the North African countries on how they could improve their country, let's ignore the fact that he is the head of the country that exploited North Africa for years and squeezed the life out of it.

Mediterranean or European, Turkey shouldn't join to any union.

Answer 14

With this new Union, we won't need the EU anymore and the whole problem about the Lisbon Treaty could be solved instantly, lol! And Turkey will become the 'front bone' one day!

It will go down in history as his biggest achievement and will make his monument bigger!

Do you know why none of the former Yougoslavic countries and Albania aren't included though?

The whole idea is to control illegal immigration especially from Northern African countries into Europe as their population will increase by a lot. He thinks by offering these countries help through infrastructure, those people won't be thinking anymore about coming to the EU as they can live a comfortable life in their own countries. The only unfortunate thing for his raise to stardom is that he got a slap from the EU!

Answer 15

Too many unions in my opinion.

It's a way to say "don't like you, but don't be our enemy". Hipocrisy.

Answer 16

My friend,

I want to call with your name, but I can not read your name ...

First of all, would you please to say your name, if it is not problem for you ?

And Then, if we came your question, I will say you, just only one sentence ...

"We are not Baby",

We are really know who is French President, we are know, what he feel about us ...

Did you check his Eyes when he talking about Turks ?

Really did you checked ?

If you do not checked, no need to talk here ...

Addition:

Ibrahim, Thank You for your information ...

Best Wishes

Answer 17

i think that mu will be one union that will have the plan to control betterthe eu the mediterean countries. no mu have no relation about turkey. europe do not work with turkish choices. europe do not beg you to come in eu. and if this time will come after 10 years ou will be very stupid if you deny the chance.