Support This Declaration

BY EMRE AKOZ
SABAH- Yesterday I wrote about a declaration written by intellectuals calling on the government to make sure Turkey's European Union bid continues and 2008 will be the `year of the EU,' as both President Abdullah Gul and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan promised. Then an interesting thing happened. The declaration by 100 intellectuals was opened up for anyone in Turkey to sign. Some friends and readers wrote to say that they also want to sign and asked me how.

I looked into it and found the woman who spearheaded the declaration is Sebnem Karaucak, the editor in chief of the journal Kriter, which deals with Turkish-EU relations. Then I found out something else interesting: In preparing the declaration, they hadn't planned to open it up to everybody. But many people asked Karaucak, just like me. Certainly people have such a desire. They don't want the government and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to give up our EU quest. I agree with them.

Remember how our moves on the EU in 2002-2004 created a great atmosphere of excitement and hope? In the words of political scientist Fuat Keyman, the EU process is a very important anchor. It's a triangulation point, a criterion, and a foundation to depend on. When the government and AKP move away from this, it not only loses its perspective, but also some people start to question its legitimacy.

Also remember that when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was shuttling among European capitals, even his harshest opponents were watching him enviously. Don't get caught up in news reports saying support for the EU in falls is falling. This is just cyclical. Who wouldn't like to live in a European Turkey? When the government starts to embrace this idea again, you'll see support rising rapidly again.

Finally, when she saw the people's requests, Karaucak changed her mind. If you want to show that you agree with the declaration, send an email to [email protected] with your name, age and profession. Your messages will be included on this paper's webpage, and you'll see more to come.