New trouble for Turkey

And this has nothing to do with the Pope. Sort of….

In light of the information in the post just below, this is a critical bit of news out of Europe today.

The European Union abandoned efforts to resolve a diplomatic deadlock over Turkish trade curbs on Cyprus before the end of the year, bringing closer a possible suspension of the country’s bid to join the EU.

So while those government officials take off for other engagements to avoid Pope Benedict’s visit this week, they’re facing new and major hurdles to overcome if they are to get membership to the EU.

Europe’s leaders will consider what action, if any, to take against Turkey at an EU summit on Dec. 14 in Brussels. The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, will meet Dec. 6 to draw up recommendations for that meeting.

So that gives Turkey about a week to reconsider some of its policies and behaviors.

The setback today comes as opposition in Europe toward admitting the poor, overwhelmingly Muslim nation of 72 million has been increasing since the bloc admitted 10 eastern European nations in 2004.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country takes over the EU’s rotating, six-month presidency from Finland on Jan. 1, told her party conference that unless Turkey ends its trade embargo on EU-member Cyprus by the end of this year, “simply carrying on with the negotiations cannot and will not occur.” …

“The EU needs to respond to this provocative Turkish refusal,” Cypriot government spokesman Christodoulos Pasiardis, said today in an interview with Greek radio station Flash. The EU is obliged “to take some concrete measures and impose some specific sanctions against Turkey,” he said without calling for a halt to Turkey’s membership talks.

Maybe Turkey can help prevent that halt themselves, by showing Benedict the esteem, goodwill and safety he deserves.