Austria

What are the Lessons From the Terrorist Attacks in France and Austria? | Martens Centre

By ::· Analyses, Austria, Europe, France, Modern Barbarian Acts ::· December 29, 2020

A series of four terrorist attacks hit France and Austria between 25 September and 2 November 2020. All were perpetrated by young jihadists. At least eight people were killed, excluding the terrorists, and more were injured, some seriously. On 25 September in Paris, Zaheer Hassan Mahmoud, a 25-year-old Pakistani immigrant, stabbed two people outside the …

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Ankara sanctions loom ahead of EU summit – Arab News

By ::· Austria, Cyprus, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, News, Turkey, United Kingdom ::· November 21, 2020

Brussels is unlikely to step back from its threat to impose curbs following Turkey’s insistence on carrying out drilling in disputed zones During a visit earlier this week condemned as “provocative and illegal” by the Cypriot government, Erdogan called for a “two-state” solution in Cyprus ANKARA: Turkey is facing a renewed threat of EU sanctions over …

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How key is Turkey? – New Europe

By ::· Analyses, Austria, Cyprus, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, News, Turkey, United Kingdom ::· November 21, 2020

The customs union has been key to Turkey’s economic successes and the country’s modernization. The EU is Turkey’s largest import and export partner. However, the country has been facing a severe currency crisis, soaring inflation and interest rates in recent time. With the severe plummeting of the Turkish lira in its value, so has Erdogan’s approval rating. As Turkey seeks to further antagonize Europe, the EU can use its leverage and cancel the customs union.

Turkey remains a key player in the Middle East, but it is not key to Europe’s economic growth. The EU can no longer tolerate Turkey’s blackmail, terror facilitation and insulting rhetoric. Therefore, the EU should support the French and Greek calls to suspend the EU’s customs union with Turkey and show it means business – or rather – no business until Turkey changes its belligerent tone and aggressive behavior.

Merkel: A decision will be made at EU summit about Turkey’s Eastern Mediterranean activities – Bianet

By ::· Austria, Cyprus, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, News, Turkey, United Kingdom ::· November 21, 2020

European Union (EU) leaders will discuss the future of the bloc’s relations with Turkey at their summit next month, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday (November 19). Speaking at a press conference following a video conference of EU leaders, Merkel said the meeting was largely focused on the coronavirus pandemic and disagreements over the EU …

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Turkey’s behaviour “widening its separation” from EU, Borrell says – Reuters

By ::· Austria, Conflicts - Fronts, Cyprus, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, News, Turkey, United Kingdom ::· November 21, 2020

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Turkey’s rhetoric on Cyprus is aggravating tensions with the European Union and Ankara must understand that its behaviour is “widening its separation” from the 27-nation bloc, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday. “We consider the recent actions and statements by Turkey related to Cyprus contrary to the United Nations …

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EU-Turkey relations at historical low point – European Parliament report – Ahval

By ::· Austria, Cyprus, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, News, Turkey, United Kingdom ::· November 14, 2020

“No incentive that the EU could offer can ever replace the much-needed political will to build a mature democracy,” it said, adding that the situation in Turkey had “far from improving, deteriorated even further.” The EP “firmly” insisted on the formal suspension of negotiations as suggested in last year’s report, so both sides could assess whether the current framework was functioning, or “explore possible new models for future relations”.

The EP “regrets the current lack of understanding between the EU and Turkey,” the report said, “but reaffirms its firm conviction that Turkey is a strategic neighbour and ally with which the EU wishes to have the best possible relations”.

Screws tighten on Gray Wolves, Erdogan’s European guard – Al Monitor

By ::· Analyses, Austria, Conflicts - Fronts, Cyprus, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, News, Security, Turkey, United Kingdom ::· November 14, 2020

Indeed, there is no organization officially registered as the Gray Wolves, which has led many to play down the French ban as posturing. This, however, does not preclude judicial action against the Gray Wolves, based on symbols and signs. Darmanin conceded that the Gray Wolves were not a formal association but insisted they formed groups that meet regularly, are connected to each other and act as an organized body.

In Turkey, the Gray Wolves are organized as the youth branches of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), called the Idealist Hearths. The MHP has been a staunch political ally of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) in recent years. Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot and wounded Pope John Paul II in 1981, is perhaps the most notorious of the Gray Wolves internationally. The movement has various avatars in Europe, such as the umbrella group called the Federation of Democratic Idealist Turkish Associations in France. Its members are active mostly in Lyon, Dijon, Strasbourg and Grenoble. 

Austria’s Leader Seeks Crackdown on Islamist Terrorism After Attack – New York Times

By ::· Austria, France, Modern Barbarian Acts, News ::· November 12, 2020

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced a set of legislative proposals that would make it easier to keep terrorists behind bars, close mosques and clamp down on funding for terrorists. BERLIN — Austria would allow courts to extend the sentences of convicted terrorists and it would establish a new criminal offense for people who “create the breeding …

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EU chief Michel calls for creation of European body to train imams – France 24

By ::· Austria, Conflicts - Fronts, Cyprus, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, News, Secularism/Islam, United Kingdom ::· December 22, 2020

Vienna (AFP) European Council president Charles Michel said Monday he supported creating a European institute to train imams, as he visited Austria to pay tribute to the victims of last week’s jihadist attack in Vienna. “It is very important to be firm on this. I think, for example, that we should have a debate at …

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Europe’s cowardly response to terror – The Spectator

By ::· Analyses, Austria, Cyprus, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Modern Barbarian Acts, News, United Kingdom ::· November 9, 2020

Europe’s intelligentsia must bear the brunt of the blame for the fact that the continent has been in the grip of a guerrilla campaign for nearly two decades. The judiciary is particularly culpable. The Vienna Islamist reportedly duped Austrian authorities into believing he had been successfully deradicalised, just as one of the killers of the Normandy priest in 2016 had made a mockery of a French court months before his attack. The mastermind of the Barcelona attack in 2017 that killed 13 people, reportedly used the Human Rights Act to avoid deportation.

Turkey won’t join EU in next 30 years – Austrian FM – Ahval

By ::· Austria, Europe, News, Turkey ::· November 9, 2020

Political Islam has “no place in Europe,” Schallenberg said, however, the conflict is not “between people of different religions or origins. It is a struggle between people who believe in peace, democracy and the rights and dignity of every human being, and those few who do not.”

Austrian authorities closed down a mosque and an Islamic association that had contributed to the radicalisation of the man who killed four people in Vienna on Monday, Integration Minister Susanne Raab told reporters on Friday.

Vienna gunman: IS supporter who ‘fooled’ the system – Digital Journal

By ::· Analyses, Austria, Modern Barbarian Acts, News ::· November 5, 2020

The gunman responsible for an attack in Vienna which left four people dead on Monday night was a convicted supporter of the Islamic State (IS) group who the government says “fooled” official de-radicalisation efforts. The 20-year-old, named as Kujtim Fejzulai, was shot dead by police and was armed with a shortened Kalashnikov, a handgun, a …

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