BY HASAN CEMAL
MILLIYET- European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso delivered a well-prepared and satisfactory speech to Parliament yesterday. It was clear from the way he spoke that he knows how little trust Turkey has had in the EU in recent years. He didn't mention the EU's policies towards Turkey seen by some as double standards, and he called for patience and understanding, reiterating that the EU membership process for any country is difficult. Barroso's messages at Parliament can be summed up as follows:
1. He defined Turkey correctly: Barroso said that Turkey is a secular and democratic republic located in Europe. In addition, he stressed that in a world where Muslims play a major role, Turkey constitutes an alternative to fundamentalist tendencies thanks to its unique characteristics. These two definitions show that Barroso grasps Turkey's path and the key role of the principle of secularism for this.
2. A surprise is unfolding: Barroso avoided using offensive language about the closure case against the Justice and Development Party (AKP). Emphasizing that he respects the Constitutional Court's decision to hear the case, he said diplomatically that he was surprised by the case being filed to begin with. He said that views which don't endorse violence shouldn't be judged. Barroso's mentioning this shows that he sees the case against the AKP as groundless.
3. Secularism is a domestic problem: Barroso obviously understands the meaning of secularism for Turkey, whose EU membership talks are underway. He defined it very well, but his words about the headscarf issue conflicted with this stance. While calling Turkey's secularism a strong alternative to fundamentalist tendencies, he said wearing headscarves or not was women's free choice, which doesn't cover the problem in Turkey entirely. Most people and especially women in Turkey are concerned about this issue, that is, putting social and public life under pressure in line with religious references, forcing a woman to cover her head, etc. `Don't expect the European Commission to take a stance or develop standards about issues like headscarves, because the EU has no stance or standards on it,' said Barroso. He added that the only vital principle is that everybody should tolerate each other's views and beliefs and that it's essential that every woman can make her free choice, whatever her views and beliefs. These words show the reason behind his astonishment. Moreover, Barroso should ponder the following question: Do the women who wear headscarves do this in line with their free choices? When he said that all the EU member countries have solved this problem, we hope he wasn't recommending what was experienced during Europe's bloody Middle Ages.
4. It's our business: Barroso stressed that as Turkey's EU membership talks are underway, it is their duty to follow developments in Turkey. He thus responded to objections that the EU can't intervene in Turkey's domestic affairs.
5. Opportunity on Cyprus: Barroso indicated that a new opportunity had arisen on Cyprus. Stressing the importance of the dialogue between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias, Barroso said that the wall in Lefkosha is the final wall in Europe and that it should come down. But Barroso didn't mention the wrongheaded EU policy of rewarding the Greek Cypriot administration while punishing the TRNC.
6. The terrorist PKK: Barroso reiterated that the PKK is a terrorist group in the EU's eyes as well, and praised Turkey's fight against terrorism, but added that no solution can be found through military methods alone. He mentioned political, social and cultural rights as well.
If the EU considers Turkey an alternative to fundamentalist tendencies, he shouldn't forget that it is precisely its secularism that has ensured this. As there is a consensus that secularism is the sine qua non and strongest guarantee of democracy, the EU should be sensitive to anti-secular initiatives in Turkey. They should know that a Turkey whose secularist basis is being shaken will be driven far from the EU. The EU should never forget it that if secularism, the keystone of our democratic, secular Turkey, is removed, the characteristics praised by Barroso will also be removed.