When will Russia join the EU?

Not very likely. They have just shaken off the yoke of socialism and the nanny state with endless restrictions on personal freedom, they won't want to go back to it.

'Full speed negotiations'? I hardly think so, nor do the Turks. They've been negotiating a lot longer than many countries that are already members of the Union.

I heard that in Russia they shoot idiots who don't know how to use a newsreader.

On Sat, 18 Nov 2006 20:28:00 +0100 'John of Aix' posted this onto uk.politics.misc:

True but my point was to highlight the EU desire to have Turkey join. IMV that remains the case despite the haggling going on.

Are you suggesting that we don't need cheap, competent, English speaking labour in the UK?

Are you suggesting that all Eastern European labour which has poured into the UK is rubbish then?

You're probably right but remember Russia, as we know it, has only existed since 1989 and is still pretty shaky and uncertain. Turkey has been a secular and pretty stable state since Ataturk's revolution and has gradually turned towards the west rather than the orient. Personally I'm against their entry as I still consider it an Asian country but I can see some good arguments in favour too.

And the fundamental problem with the Titanic was the arrangement of the deckchairs.

There's probably a law against it.

When I say "it" I obviously don't mean Russia joining which, if our betters have decided is the right thing for them^H^H us, is a foregone conclusion. I mean questioning Russia joining.

When they admit Mexico as a state, we'll discuss it.

They aren't rubbish, just top-posting idiots.

I assumed he meant that it was the EU that needed to get them under control.

Really.

On Sat, 18 Nov 2006 22:36:20 +0100 'John of Aix' posted this onto uk.politics.misc:

I think comparing Russia with Turkey is difficult because Russia has no relevant Islamic element in its politics. The last time I visited Turkey on business it was still under martial law and IIUC Turkey has only "gradually turned towards the west rather than the orient" (as you put) because the military has been in the shadows for several decades pulling the strings to ensure it, in accordance with American demands.

Nevertheless, there remain many Turks who would prefer a more Islamic state. What will happen to these more conservative Islamic elements of Turkish politics if/when it joins the EU is anybody's guess.

There is an interesting story, with a Russian angle:

NO. just the opposite. The poster was implying that eastern Europeans were incompetent, they are not.

Was that poster me? - your top posting may not be helping you correctly attribute comments correctly. That or a poor grasp of written English.

hummingbird wrote: [snip]

The accuracy of that statement depends on the criteria for forming an "EU desire".

I do not recall the voters being asked.