Nearly half the Turks do not want to join EU
An opinion poll conducted after the release of an EU report on progress of Turkey's reforms also reveals that 70% of those interviewed want the suspension of negotiations if Brussels insists that Turkey opens its ports to Cyprus.
Ankara (AsiaNews) Almost half of Turks oppose membership in the European Union, and more than two-thirds of the population believes negotiations with Brussels should be suspended if the EU insists on the opening of Turkish ports and airports to Cyprus. These were Turkey's initial reactions, emerging from an opinion poll conducted yesterday evening after the release of an EU report on talks with Ankara.
The report is strongly critical about progress of reforms in Turkey to adjust to European standards and has given Ankara until mid-December when the Council of Europe will meet to adjust to community demands about the opening of trade with Cyprus, freedom of expression and religion, women's rights and trade union rights.
Yesterday's poll, reported by the Turkish Daily News, was conducted by the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), an independent institute in Ankara. According to information gathered, 45% of the Turkish population is opposed to EU entry. This reluctance appears to be due to diffidence towards the Union and growing doubts about its readiness to admit the Country of the Crescent.
Seventy percent of those surveyed said talks with the EU should be suspended if the EU presses for the opening of ports and airports to Cyprus.
The survey would seem to vindicate the initial reactions of the Turkish government. Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said his country's sea and air ports would remain closed to Cypriot vessels if the Union failed to keep its promises to ease European trade and travel restrictions on the so-called Turkish Republic of Cyprus, that is, the north of the island, recognized only by Ankara. Erdogan admitted there could be a "period of stagnation" in ties with the EU, but ruled out the possibility of accession talks collapsing a little more than a year after they began in October 2005.
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13/02/2018 19:32
