BY EMRE AKOZ
SABAH- Everyone, from politicians to professors, say the same thing: There's still a war in our southeast, Turkish Penal Code (TSK) Article 301 remains unchanged, Alevis' problems are being ignored, and there are troubling signs that we're about to face an economic crisis, but the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have no interest in anything but the headscarf issue. Interestingly, even people who oppose the headscarf ban say this.
First, let me ask: Is it possible to tackle the country's problems as a whole? Both practically and categorically, it would be unreasonable to say yes. Practically, for example, it's not easy for Parliament to take action on Article 301, Alevis' request on their cemevi houses, and solving the headscarf issue.These problems are in different areas. Measures to head off a possible economic crisis and the Alevis' requests are very separate. But there is also another dimension of the issue, which is the general stance of the AKP and MHP. What are our general stances, aims and goals? In other words, what is our vision? When we put the question this way, actually, we reach a vision which will bring us to a solution: the European Union!
Kriter, a monthly supplement to Radikal daily, this week published an important interview with Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. In the interview, Babacan said that the new Foundations Law was ready, Article 301 was back on track, Turkey had held 229 meetings with the EU since last September, 17 delegations have been sent to Brussels in the last five months alone, and more than 40 visits have been paid at the level of premier and foreign minister, but we still can't open certain chapters with the EU, because there are certain political obstacles. For example, Greece is creating hurdles on the energy chapter due to oil issues in the Mediterranean, and France is hindering the economy and monetary policies chapter, fearing this would make Turkey a full EU member. Also, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is against Turkey's full EU membership, but he said openly that he didn't mean to stop the process.
Babacan concluded that this year could be very different in terms of the EU and everybody would be surprised. Let me reiterate that a similar argument was made by President Abdullah Gul, who said that 2008 would be the year of Europe. Because Turkey's improvement in every area, from democratization to the economy and from freedoms to transparency, is possible only through continuing our EU vision. But unfortunately, we Turks don't see this eagerness. On the contrary, the AKP gives the impression that it has lost the EU compass. But, if the AKP and the government had dealt with the headscarf issue not separately, but as part of an EU vision, things would be very different, as, for instance, the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association would not have made such criticisms. Now people see only one problem in Turkey, namely, the headscarf. But the same issue would have developed freedom in terms of the EU. That's why the EU vision is important for this reason as well."