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Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo
I could have sworn that the E in EU stood for EUROPEAN. Just a quick check of a map....
http://students.wsc.ma.edu/rpellicier5597/europe.html
Turkey is at best "EurAsian" - geographically 90% resides on the continent recognized as Asia. Half of the city of Istanbul is in Asia, the other half in Europe, split down the middle by the Bosphorus river. 10% (roughly) of the rest of the country is geographically in Europe.
Depending on where you go in Turkey, you could think you were in an Asian country, a Middle Eastern country, or a European country. However, appearances do not tell the story.
If it were my decision, Turkey would not be considered for a spot on the EU. They are not located in Europe, nor have they embraced European values. A country where the military must be on standby to keep the government secular isn't exactly to european civility standards. While Turkey can't move the river to change its geography, it can move its societal standards - and it consistently refuses to do so in ways that would reassure the member EU countries.
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To me Turkey is Middle East, period. And ME belongs to the orient. The Turkmen came from the northern area of Iran and Afghanistan. The Turkish lanmguage has nothing in common with any of the European languages. It does not share hisdoric roots with any Europoean country (expect in terms of attempted military conquests by the Ottomans), it does not share religion, and in fact Turkey/Ottoman Empire has been an enemy of Christianity and European nations.