"Low-profile Dutchman goes out with a bang
By George Parker in Brussels
Published: December 20 2004 02:00 | Last updated: December 20 2004 02:00
A large concrete cow embossed with tulips stands sentry outside Jan Peter Balkenende's suite at the Brussels EU summit, where he spent last Friday 'writing history' by setting Turkey on the path to European Union membership.
It was supposed to be auspicious. The Dutch prime minister knows that if any country loves tulips more than his own, it is Turkey - the Turks claim to have exported the first bulbs to Holland.
Instead the beast bore witness to some extraordinary scenes as Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, accused Mr Balkenende of jeopardising a deal to allow his country to start EU membership talks."
More:FT.com / World / Europe - Low-profile Dutchman goes out with a bang
