BERLIN - Turkey's Ambassador in Berlin Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik Friday sent an article to Turkish and German institutions and organizations regarding Turkish-European Union (EU) relations.
Irtemcelik, who officially started his term in office after presenting his letter of credence to German President Johannes Rau on Thursday, in his letter replied to question on Turkey's full membership to EU.
The 21-page article, which was prepared in German and in Turkish, was on ''EU December 2004 Summit and Turkish-EU Relations After Summit''.
In the article Irtemcelik said a decision would be taken in December 2004 on starting of full membership negotiations, not on Turkey's membership to the EU, adding there was still time for Ankara's full membership.
Irtemcelik said starting full membership negotiations would encourage Turkey on the way to EU, and noted that this would also encourage Ankara to take more positive steps.
Irtemcelik said some people, who opposed to Turkey's full membership, defended the view that, ''there are cultural and historical differences between Turkey and Europe which are impossible to be harmonized. So, Turkey should not have a place in the EU.''
Irtemcelik said ''religion'' concept was meant here although not clearly mentioned, however such views were not healthy with respect to theological and moral sense. He also said in all the decisions taken by the EU so far, it was clearly stated that Turkey was capable of being an EU member.
Irtemcelik said in case Turkey was excluded from the EU by basing on pretext of religion, this would not be for the benefit of EU peoples and countries as many Moslem people were living in European countries. He said thus a retaining wall would be set between the Christians and Moslems.
Irtemcelik said Turkey was a synthesis of Islam and Western civilizations as of its social culture and has a rich history stemming from its geography, and mentioned the importance of relations between Turkey and Germany.
Irtemcelik recalled the successes Turkey recorded in championships throughout Europe, and gave information on Turkey's potential.
Touching on allegations of torture in Turkey, Irtemcelik said humanity, including EU member countries, could not reach to the level of ''excellent society'', noting that there were some deficiencies in human rights in Turkey as it was the case in all the countries.
Irtemcelik said there were allegations of torture despite a series of legal and administrative measures, but that the government many times stressed that it would have ''zero'' tolerance to torture.
Responding to allegations that Turkey was not in Europe in geographical sense, Irtemcelik said Europe never had certain borders, recalling that accession conditions to the EU had only been determined as fulfillment of Copenhagen criteria.
Pointing out that Cyprus was far away to Turkey from Europe, Irtemcelik said incidents which were experienced in a globalizing world began to affect Europe long since.
Irtemcelik said Turkey's demographical size also did not constitute a big problem as it was alleged, stating that rate of population increase in Turkey began to regress, and that population would be above 80 million within 20-25 years and later fix on this figure.
Irtemcelik said reforms that would be made in the next 10 years would activate its young and dynamic potential, and that this would not be a burden on EU budget in financial means.
Irtemcelik said the concern that there would be a very big migration from Turkey to Germany was not true, adding that around 40 thousand Turkish citizens return from Germany to Turkey every year.
Noting that some people wanted solution of Cyprus from Turkey for its EU full membership, Irtemcelik said Cyprus question was not a political criteria that should be met for membership, adding that Turkey's EU membership could not be connected with solution of Cyprus question.
(AY) 17.10.2003