Bad weekend for EU-Turkey relations

EUObserver reports that Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused German society of 'xenophobia' and the German government of 'discrimination' ahead of a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel, February 2011. The remarks followed an unfriendly encounter with French President Sarkozy a few days earlier with the French President repeating his opposition to Turkey joining the EU.

ESO: Background information: Erdoğan promotes Turkey's EU bid in Paris http://www.europeansources.info/record/erdogan-promotes-turkeys-eu-bid-in-paris/

ESO: Background information: EU must embrace up-and-coming Turkey, German FM says http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-must-embrace-up-and-coming-turkey-german-fm-says/

ESO: Background information: Merkel seeks to defuse Turkish schools row http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-seeks-to-defuse-turkish-schools-row/

EurActiv, 28.2.11: Sarkozy spells out 'red lines' on Turkey trip http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/sarkozy-spells-red-lines-turkey-news-502547

Deutsche Welle, 26.2.11: Turkey not fit for EU accession: Sarkozy http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14875593,00.html

The Guardian, 4.3.11: What Erdoğan knows about Europe (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/527161-what-erdogan-knows-about-europe

Frankfurter Rundschau, 2.3.11: No more Mr. Nice Guy (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/522021-no-more-mr-nice-guy

Spiegel Online International, 28.2.11: 'You Are Part of Germany, But Also Part of Our Great Turkey' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,748070,00.html

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