Turkish leader attacks ‘comatose’ EU

Turkey’s Prime Minister Reçep Tayyip Erdogan branded the European Union 'near geriatric' and 'comatose' in a tirade in January 2011 that underlines Ankara’s impatience with the slow pace of accession talks.

Mr Erdogan warned – in an article for Newsweek magazine – that Turkey’s ties with the EU were 'fast approaching a turning point', as it was no longer a country that would wait at the door as a 'docile supplicant'.

EUObserver, 18.1.11: New Year message: 'Geriatric' EU needs 'vigorous' Turkey http://euobserver.com/9/31657

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