====================================================================== Rule #1: YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. ======================================================================
The Telegraph reports that the Belgian far right party Vlaams Belang's Filip Dewinter has expressed support for the newly selected EU "president" re his islamophobic views about Turkey's possible EU membership. But the party's website has a press release where they state that VB is/was opposed to Van Rompuy's candidacy. Could a Dutch/Belgian/etc comrade clarify this..? Thanks! The Telegraph article and VB press release pasted further below. Check also this Euobserver's piece for what Van Rompuy actually said: "Turkey is not a part of Europe and will never be part of Europe," Mr Van Rompuy said during a meeting of the Council of Europe on the subject of Turkey's possible entry into the EU, held in the Belgian parliament on December, 2004. [..] "An expansion of the EU to include Turkey cannot be considered as just another expansion as in the past. The universal values which are in force in Europe, and which are also fundamental values of Christianity, will lose vigour with the entry of a large Islamic country such as Turkey[.]" Belgian officials confirmed to this website that the speech was made, but noted that the comments were made when in opposition. http://euobserver.com/9/29016 --- EU president: Herman Van Rompuy opposes Turkey joining <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6600570/EU-president-Herman-Van-Rompuy-opposes-Turkey-joining.html> Herman Van Rompuy, Belgium's Prime Minister, has in the past spoken out against Turkish EU membership because, he warned, it would dilute Europe's Christian heritage. His position on the issue is so strong that he has won the support of Vlaams Belang, the controversial far-right Flemishh anti-immigrant party in Belgium. Speaking five years ago, as an opposition politician, Mr Rompuy, a Christian Democrat, argued that Muslim Turkey could not be considered a candidate for EU membership. "Turkey is not a part of Europe and will never be part of Europe. An expansion of the EU to include Turkey cannot be considered as just another expansion as in the past," he said. "The universal values which are in force in Europe, and which are fundamental values of Christianity, will loose vigour with the entry of a large Islamic country such as Turkey." Filip Dewinter, a Vlaams Belang leader, said: "We are entirely in agreement with Van Rompuy over this question and are convinced he will defend this point of view as President of the EU. It is for this reason we openly support him." Mr Van Rompuy's opposition to Turkey is set to cement British and East European opposition to him during Thursday's summit dinner to appoint a President and Eu foreign minister. --- Vlaams Belang Opposed to Candidacy Herman Van Rompuy http://www.vlaamsbelang.org/56/81/ Klik hier voor de foto in originele afmetingen. 18.11.2009 - Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy is being named as one of the top candidates for the European presidency. An argument that is often heard, is that “if Van Rompuy can govern a difficult country such as Belgian, he surely is able to lead the European Union”. In Belgium, however, things have not changed for the better under Van Rompuy’s rule. A few examples. For the first time in the political history of this country, there is a Flemish minority in the federal government – which is undemocratic because the rule of parity says that the federal government has to consist of an equal amount of Flemings and Walloons. The current government is also characterised by immobility: no progress has been made concerning the state reform and the scission of the electoral district Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde, which is a big point of contention between Flemings and Walloons for many years now. The scission of the electoral district is also essential for future elections to be legal, as ruled by the Constitutional Court. With regard to immigration and asylum, Van Rompuy and his government have allowed the start of a new, massive regularisation campaign. During the next five years, it is expected that another 350.000 immigrants will enter this country, through regularisation and family reunification. In the European Parliament, Vlaams Belang MEP Philip Claeys stated that “we do not need a colourless person who blindly obeys the European Commission. What we need is a strong character, a real spokesperson for the European people.” ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: [email protected] Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
