"EU-US: Kiss and make up?
In Short:
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld came to Europe and talked nice - no more of the 'old Europe versus new Europe'-type quips. But have the clouds cleared across the Atlantic?
.... It was in this context that the US offered special help to Turkey - an old NATO member and a key American ally during the first Gulf War - in order for Ankara to join the "new Europe" group. This was especially important in light of the resistance to Turkey's EU membership prospects from "old Europe" France and Germany. "Politically, Turkey does not stand with the new Europe", explained The Washington Post. "Turkey opposed the war and denied US troops the right to transit its territory. And having just been accepted as a candidate to join the EU (in 10-15 years), it can hardly be considered old Europe. The term 'neo-Europe' would seem more appropriate (Though 'neo' means new, its connotation is different).""
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