Anger in Ankara
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The gloves came off today as new UK Prime Minister David Cameron took a fierce swipe at EU heavyweights France and Germany for dragging their heels on Turkey's accession bid, accusing his European partners of protectionism and prejudice.
The British leader vowed to act as the "strongest possible advocate" for Turkey's EU membership, during a speech to Ankara's business community today.
His outspoken comments came on the same day as Iceland began its EU accession talks - a process that is expected to be much quicker and less problematic than the Turkish talks that have been limping along since 2005.
Mr Cameron hinted at double standards from some of his European partners, pointing out that they happily accept Turkey's help defending Europe as part of NATO and constantly dangle the carrot of EU membership without really committing to the process.
"My view is clear. I believe it’s just wrong to say Turkey can guard the camp but not be allowed to sit inside the tent," he said.
In a pointed dig at the French, Mr Cameron recalled how back in the day General Charles de Gaulle once vetoed UK accession to the organisation that would evolve into the EU, claiming that Britain was "not European" enough.
Germany and France have both in the past angered Turkey by pushing for it to take "privileged partnership" status instead, claiming that the mainly Muslim, rapidly growing economy is too different from its European neighbours for full membership to work.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who is also in Turkey today, began his visit with a variation on this theme.
"If the question had to be decided today, Turkey would not be ready for membership and the EU would not be ready to absorb it," he told the Bild newspaper in a statement that only served to highlight the bloc's internal divisions on the issue.
