Barroso closes Turkey’s window to Europe

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Turkey’s ambitions to join the bloc are being thwarted because of cultural differences and a change in attitude toward Turkey, Reuters reported.

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“There are some big questions about the membership of Turkey because of cultural differences and that is something that is extremely serious. We are now discussing this matter with our member states… Turkey recognizes that not all benchmarks have been met – this is the first issue. The European Commission is very much in favor of the enlargement of the European Union but we have to see all the members meet all criteria,” Barroso said.

Turkey’s application to join the 27-nation EU has met with European resistance for years because of Turkey’s human rights record and friction with Cyprus, an EU member that Turkey does not recognize.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/world/news/53875/Barroso_closes_Turkeys_window_to_Europe