BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
TURKIYE- Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on Turkey’s determination to gain European Union membership. A summary of his column is as follows:
The most brilliant performance of this government so far has been its determination to attain European Union membership. This cause is just. Those who oppose the Justice and Development Party (AKP) have found fault with it: for them, the AKP thinks that it will be easy to establish in Turkey a regime based on religion, a power inclined to reactionaryism.
Let’s say that there is a longing for reactionaryism in the AKP or Turkey, or alternately perhaps separatism, racism, communism or fascism. These are merely marginal, fantastic, romantic and nostalgic longings seen in even the most developed countries. Neither the regime nor the state is endangered by such yearnings. Democracy can defend itself.
Our regime based on the cornerstone of Turkey’s secular democracy will not be changed. Moreover, EU membership can provide an even greater safeguard. The borders of EU member countries aren’t open to negotiation, and dividing up members is a closed subject. Governments based on reactionaryism and anti-democratic tendencies aren’t allowed. The rules of democracy cannot be violated.
Our fear of reactionaryism has always been fed and exaggerated. By playing up this threat, a certain mentality has restricted the nation’s rights. But a secular democracy shouldn’t cower in fear of this bogeyman. Rather, it should take necessary measures. More importantly, using the threat of reactionaryism to justify opposition to EU membership is unacceptable.
The enthusiasm for Europe of the government, opposition, and the Turkish nation at large shouldn’t be dampened. Such discouragement can only take us backwards.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION