HUGE: Turkey considers Shanghai organization an alternative to EU



 Imagine Turkey joined with China -  Photo: Courtesy Wikimedia

(Note: Hardly a single person I've talked with knows what SCO is. It is one of the world's most important organizations. Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization include China, Russia and most of the former Soviet Union countries. Observer statusnations include India, Pakistan and other nations in Asia. At its meetings representatives from half of humanity sit together for consultations on military, economic, business development issues. SCO combines the might of EU and NATO - for Asia. This news, for anyone who cares to think about the future of the Middle East, is HUGE. Think of what it means if Turkey joins up with China and Russia, and leaves the EU behind.

 

"Turkey and the European Union have failed to make substantial progress in their accession talks, pushing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to once again say that Turkey is seriously considering seeking membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as an alternative at a time when the EU’s future looks increasingly dim.

"Speaking to reporters during a televised program aired in Kanal 24 late on Friday, Erdoğan said Turkey is now seeking alternative options amid eroding hopes on the EU process with regard to adamant opposition to Turkey’s membership by a number of EU member countries.
Touching upon a wide array of issues, Erdoğan said Turkey is seriously considering being part of the SCO.

"Turkey was accepted as a dialogue partner by the SCO at its annual summit in Beijing on June 7.
“The fact is that we have not yet given up on the EU process. Egemen Bağış makes his presentation on [Turkey-EU] relations at every Cabinet meeting. He regularly travels throughout Europe,” Erdoğan said, citing the government’s continuing interest in the EU despite the pessimistic atmosphere."

Quoted from Turkish Newspaper "Zaman", Saturday, January 26, 2013