BY FEHMI KORU
YENI SAFAK- We were all taken aback by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s recent statement that the European Union was planning to launch a series of ‘conditional negotiations’ for Turkey. Anti-EU circles are now raising their voices in protest louder than ever.
Let’s not forget that the approval of Turkey’s accession to the Union would be no ordinary development in the old continent’s history. Nobody should expect the EU to readily welcome our country. There are many considerable differences between Turkey and both the new EU members and the other candidates: First of all, our population is very large. Secondly, if Turkey joins the ranks of the EU, its boundaries will extend to the problem countries of the Middle East, which are known as ‘bandits’ by Europeans. Moreover, the vast majority of our population is Muslim. Most importantly, our country has yet to be successful in implementing the Copenhagen criteria, and our economy is still racked by crises. Finally and not surprisingly, Europeans are concerned about our past, something of which Turks are conversely proud. The EU countries don’t let these facts slip from their minds for even a second.
Europe is currently trying to decide whether Turkey should remain a friend, either as an EU member or as a peripheral country: Let’s face the fact that the honest response would be the latter. However, EU membership is a strategic necessity for Turkey, as Ankara will inevitably suffer greater foreign policy problems in the future unless it makes it into the Union.
The next five months before the year-end EU summit will be key since the member countries are expected to test Ankara’s determination on its path towards membership. Therefore, our government must be very careful in the implementation of the reform packages to make a smooth process. Let’s not forget that the Europeans are hesitant about our membership and so will be looking for a pretext to give us a ‘conditional yes’ at this December’s summit. What Schroeder did was actually a sort of a trial balloon.
Turkey’s EU membership won’t be an easy decision to make for either side. Having proved its resolve, our government has been making good progress on its path. Now it’s high time for us to display our determination to our European fellows so as to help them overcome their hesitancy.