BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on Turkey’s European Union membership prospects. A summary of his column is as follows:
Discussions about circles supposedly opposed to Turkey’s European Union membership have flared up once again. While the government is preparing to pass the sixth harmonization package in Parliament, Kemalist ideology and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have been fingered as possible obstacles to Turkey’s EU membership. Ankara hasn’t yet received a date for our membership negotiations. This is Ankara’s top goal, so it is taking new steps towards this end. It’s both following a policy of conciliation on the Cyprus issue and continuing to make needed EU-directed legal arrangements. In this respect, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Parliament wouldn’t go on recess in July, favoring instead a one-month break. This decision is very appropriate, particularly in terms of the work we need to do on our path to the EU.
However, Turkey shouldn’t waste its time on fruitless discussions. There is no institution in Turkey which is opposed to EU membership, including the TSK. In various ways, the General Staff officers have signaled that they aren’t against Turkey’s EU membership. When they stated their opinions, however, they did voice certain doubts. They particularly pointed out the support of certain European Union members for terrorism against Turkey and their hypocritical policies.
The discussions in Ankara are focusing on whether or not the TSK is against Turkey’s EU membership. However, these discussions are neglecting the EU’s approach and the barriers it is placing in our path. Neither Kemalist ideology nor the TSK is blocking our EU membership. In addition, Ankara’s reforms and the General Staff’s contributions shouldn’t be forgotten in terms of fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria. Today there is no criticism that Europe can fairly level against Turkey. We’ve essentially met their criteria. Since last August, Turkey has taken important steps and nobody has hindered them. My hope is that the EU won’t create any further obstacles and will instead give us a date for membership negotiations. The rest will be easy.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION