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	Nelson Mandela lauds African Icons as Role Models by Reuters Kenya   Nairobi, October 3, 2005   Former South African President Nelson Mandela urged the leaders of Africa on Sunday to draw lessons from those who liberated the continent from colonialism as they chart paths to lift their countries from poverty and strife.   Mandela, who led South Africa out of the apartheid era, said African leaders who guided their countries to independence offered many lessons to their successors.   Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and other pioneers demonstrated that "we could challenge colonialism. We are following in their path," he said on arrival in Nairobi, where he was greeted by traditional songs, drumbeats and dances.   "Such leaders have not perished. They are coming up in droves and inspire an entire continent," said Mandela, 87, who appeared frail and was often supported by an aide.   Mandela retired from public life last year. He is visiting Kenya with his wife, Graca Machel, who is in the country to lead meetings on a final report on Kenya in a closely watched African peer review process.   Mandela said Africans should concentrate on the positive achievements their leaders have made and not their failings, as the continent works to solve its own problems.   Kenya is among the first four countries to take part in a peer review plan being closely watched by Africans and international donors and sponsored by the New Partnership for Africa's Development.   The partnership launched the voluntary reviews by African peer countries to encourage more aid and investment into the world's poorest continent by improving governance. Evaluators assess governments' records in democracy, human rights, peace and security, economic policy and business environment.
	Historic EU Deal on Turkey by SBS News / The Observer   4.10.2005.   Historic EU Deal on Turkey. (SBS News)   The European Union has clinched an historic 11th-hour accord with Turkey to clear the way for landmark talks with the mainly Muslim state.   Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul called the accord a turning point in his country"s history.   British Foreign Minister Jack Straw hailed the breakthrough as a victory for all sides. "We are all winners: Europe, the existing (EU) member states, Turkey and the international community," said Mr Straw of the accord.   It was struck despite the fact that public opinion surveys show most Europeans against Ankara"s EU bid. "It"s going to be a long road ahead but I have no doubt that if bringing Turkey in is the prize, it is worth fighting," he said, speaking ahead of an expected formal launch of the talks later Monday night.   In Ankara the Turkish foreign minister, due in Luxembourg later Monday night, underlined the significance of the talks.   "We have come to a historic point today ... "What is important for us is that the prospect of full membership is very clear. There is no alternative such as a privileged partnership," Mr Gul said.   The talks have been blocked by Austrian demands that the EU offer Turkey something less than full membership as part of the so-called "negotiating framework" for the talks, which sets out their principles and logistics.   The breakthrough came after Mr Straw warned that failure would prove "catastrophic" for the bloc, still in turmoil following French and Dutch rejections of its first constitution in May and June.   It also came as UN warcrimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte said Croatia was fully cooperating with her, a key demand for Zagreb to start EU talks. There is widespread speculation that Croatia"s and Turkey"s EU bids are linked.   After four decades of knocking at Europe"s door, EU leaders meeting in December gave the Turkey a date of October 3 to start membership talks.   But Ankara"s recent insistence that it would still not recognise EU member state Cyprus, in a declaration attached to a customs agreement in July, created new strains just weeks before its long-awaited date. That issue was resolved last month.   But wrangling over the exact wording of the negotiating framework went right down to the wire, with Austria holding out for Turkey to be offered something less than full EU membership. In the event the text finally agreed conserves the original wording that "the shared objective of the negotiations is accession.”   But it adds: "While having full regard to all (EU political criteria), including the absorption capacity of the Union, if Turkey is not in a position to assume in full all the obligations of membership it must be ensured that Turkey is fully anchored in the European structures through the strongest possible bond."   The EU delay has angered Turkish politicians and the public alike. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country has suffered through tough political, economic and social reform to join, had urged the EU to show good sense before the accord was struck. "If the EU wants to become a global power, if it aims to eliminate the conflict of civilizations, the concert of civilizations must be achieved," he said.   The EU has long underlined that the fact of starting membership negotiations does not guarantee that Turkey will actually join. In any case the talks are likely to take at least a decade, during which   Turkey will have to comply with a succession of "chapters," or EU policy areas, forcing it to meet EU standards.   In addition its eventual accession must be ratified by all current EU member states - including in some cases by referendum, giving countries including France an effective popular veto on Ankara"s bid.   October 1, 2005   "Failure of the talks would betray Turks and Europe, by Gaby Hinsliff. (The Observer)   The talks over Turkey"s historic attempt to join the European Union may not take place, an event that would dismay proponents of European enlargement.   Whitehall sources estimated the chances of the negotiations starting at only 50/50, with Austria insisting privately it is essential for Turkey to be offered only limited rights - a privileged partnership which the Turks will not accept - rather than full membership.   Douglas Alexander, the Europe minister, said if the talks failed it would be a betrayal of both the Turkish people"s hopes and of European enlargement.   However, he told The Observer: "There can be no certainty that agreement will be reached. We simply do not know whether agreement can be achieved.   "What we do know is that we will be working tirelessly ... to secure the agreement that we believe is right not just for Turkey but for Europe as a whole."   The crisis has highlighted deep hostility to Turkish immigration in several EU states. The former EU commissioner Chris Patten warned yesterday that member states must confront xenophobia about Turkey.   "To define Europe today as though it were an introverted, cohesive, medieval Christian community is, I think, terrible," Patten said. "It sends not only awful messages outside, but it actually sends some pretty dubious messages to the 12 million or more Muslims who live within the European Union."   But in an interview for BBC1"s The Politics Show to be broadcast today, the former French president Valery Giscard d"Estaing accuses Britain of being "out of touch" with European public opinion in pushing Turkey"s case.   A crisis meeting in Luxembourg today will attempt to rescue the talks. All 25 member states agreed last December that accession talks should begin this month, but Austria subsequently raised objections.   The failure of the negotiations would be a serious blow to Tony Blair"s British presidency of the EU. Ushering Turkey inside was one of three British priorities, alongside rescuing the European constitution, and agreeing a deal on future financing, for its six months in charge. So far it has not been able to claim a single clear success.   Turkey"s foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, warned yesterday that if conditions were attached "this kind of partnership can never be."   Alexander said anchoring Turkey in Europe would make it "a beacon of democracy and modernity" resonating throughout the Middle East. "We believe that if Europe fails to open talks with Turkey it would not simply be a betrayal of the hopes and expectations of the many millions of people in Turkey who want a European future, .... it would send the wrong message about enlargement."   Turkey had a higher rate of economic growth than any other EU member state, he said, plus young and vibrant population.
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