BY TAHA AKYOL
MILLIYET- EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen arrived in Turkey and the report prepared by the Independent Commission on Turkey was announced. Positive signals are increasing and a satisfactory decision is expected in December. Are the reforms made by Turkey the only reason for this optimism? I asked this question to Prof. Ahmet Davutoglu, foreign policies advisor of the prime minister and foreign minister. He replied, ‘Turkey has friendly relations with all its neighbors. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans to visit Turkey are important, even if he was unable to do it. If Europe wants to establish friendly relations with Eurasia and the Islamic geography and prevent the conflict of civilizations, Turkey is the best way for it. Of course Turkey should fulfill this global mission.
In sum, the 50-page report states the following:
Turkey is becoming a corridor of energy between Europe and Asia. With its link with the Turkic republics and geopolitical location, Turkey could help Europe with reaching the oil in Caucasus and Siberia. In addition, Turkey is a determining factor in terms of the water problem in the Middle East countries. * Anatolia is one of the cradles of the European civilization. The Ottoman Empire was one of the important elements of the European politics. Certain communities which were under pressure in Europe took shelter in the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman sultans started the modernization and Ataturk established the modern Turkey. Meanwhile, the public adopted a liberal secularism. * Turkey’s EU membership would save the EU from being a closed Christian club and prove the reconcilability of Islam and democracy. Turkey is the example of finding a solution for the dilemma between religious traditions in the Islamic world and modern universal values. Turkey is directed towards Europe. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has carried our more reforms than those made in the last ten years.
The report, which is an example of political wisdom, also criticizes the paranoiac generalizations and clichés about Turkey, stating, ‘Even certain people argue that if Turkey becomes an EU member, Muslim people would occupy Europe and destroy the European culture and civilization!’ This report shows the horizons of the political thought, which is what Davutoglu calls, the ‘strategic deepness.’ Our historic heritage is passing through a social modernization process and becoming the elements of a global mission. Of course there will be rises and falls but Turkey is fulfilling this mission very well.