TA_R1_00298539 EFTA01884058 membership seem less important. But the waning aspiration could stall important democratic reforms. Newspaper seller Menderes is beaming: "Everything is great!" His newsstand is located at the Kadikoy ferry landing on the Asian side of Istanbul. Business is going well thes

ering the second-fastest growth rate in the world last year at 8.5 percent. The country has a young population and the consumer culture is robust. Menderes doesn't shy away from making comparisons to Europe when it comes to the economy, either. "There is no crisis in Turkey," he says. "Our Prime Minist