Word: greekness
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...secular democracy dating from 1923, when Ataturk, one of the world's most influential political figures of the 20th century, proclaimed a republic after almost 500 years of rule by the Ottoman Empire. And although Istanbul is home to synagogues and churches and is also the capital of the Greek Orthodox world, the city remains predominantly Islamic. On the one hand, it is so liberal that during Ramadan fasting is considered a private choice and lunchtime joints are packed. On the other, the sight of women in head scarves, which had all but disappeared, has become increasingly familiar again...
Turkish troops have occupied the northern half of the island since invading in 1974 in response to an increase in fighting between Greek and Turkish Cypriots sparked by an Athens-backed coup. But the international community has never recognized the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus that Ankara established, and it has existed in near total isolation ever since. "We will not make a move without it being matched," a Turkish Foreign Ministry official told Time last week. Finland, which currently holds the presidency of the E.U., tried to avert the current crisis by proposing that one Turkish Cypriot port...
...short-lived. Just days after the Pope's remarks, Olli Rehn, the E.U.'s Commissioner for Enlargement, recommended that the E.U. suspend a portion of Turkey's membership talks just 13 months after they began. The reason: Turkey's continued unwillingness to open its ports to ships from the Greek-controlled half of the disputed island of Cyprus. [an error occurred while processing this directive...
...Greek Cypriot shipping has long been a contentious issue in Turkey's E.U. debate. Several months ago, Rehn warned that Turkish obstinacy about it could lead to a "train wreck." With no change in Turkish policy since then, Rehn has suggested that the European Commission, the 25-member executive body of the European Union, vote to suspend eight of the 35 tracks (called chapters) of the negotiations aimed at bringing Turkish institutions up to E.U. standards. Britain, Spain, Italy and other countries that have long supported Turkish accession argued for a milder penalty, while France pushed for as many...
...through reforms to improve the rights of the Kurdish minority and strengthen civilian control of the military - measures that helped convince the E.U. to open membership talks in the first place. But he seems unwilling to back down on Cyprus. Erdogan has agreed to lift Turkey's restrictions on Greek Cypriot ships and planes only if the E.U. follows through on its promises to ease trade restrictions on the Turkish Cypriot?controlled part of the island...