BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
TURKIYE- Speaking of foreign circles, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said recently, ‘Those who oppose or don’t believe in our European Union membership should also stay out of Cyprus issue.’ His words were true but incomplete, because this should also apply to Turkey itself.
The upper ranks of Turkish bureaucracy are full of people who oppose the EU. They are gripped by fear that they will lose their position and power under the EU system. But on the contrary, they should thrive in the healthy atmosphere of the EU. Among those opposing the EU, there are those who believe they are only protecting the nation’s interests. They’re trying to burn Turkey’s bridges with the EU. They aren’t afraid of losing out personally, because they imagine that they can hold onto their privileges forever. Those supporting the status quo are gambling with Turkey’s future and trying to make it veer off the course it’s been following for many years.
Turkey is afraid of being cheated once again by the West on the Cyprus issue. We’re also waiting for fair treatment from the EU, that is, a date for membership negotiations to begin. I don’t want speculate what will happen if we don’t get a date next December. I’m sure there are diplomats and statesmen in Europe who know the answer to this. I know that if we see positive developments, those who currently support the status quo in Turkey will all of a sudden become fervent EU supporters.