By Yusuf Kanli
TDN- `We are Turks, this is Turkey, the EU cannot intervene in our internal affairs,` but if adequately `motivated` we do see realities from time to time. That`s a summary of the past two weeks in Turkish-EU ties.
We applaud the joint statement of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Union Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen announcing the end of the so-called adultery row between Turkey and the EU, although we still have trouble understanding why there was a need for such tension at home and in our relations with Europe in the first place.
Over the past few days, in an effort to share the blame for the tension with the main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP), the top echelons of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) have been complaining to newsmen that it was with the encouragement of the CHP that they considered inclusion of a clause making adultery a crime punishable by up to three years` imprisonment. They have been claiming to have been somehow cheated and pulled into a trap by the main opposition party.
Turks are naive, and they can be fooled in any way considered appropriate by the ruling party. This is what such statements imply. This approach is as deplorable as breaking a promise to the nation and to the main opposition party by halting a key piece of legislation at the very last minute after realizing they would not be able to impose their agenda.
Anyhow, this is Turkey and we are Turks. We love the Mehteran Band -- the oldest military band in the world, they say -- famous for its inspiring music as well as its marching style: Two steps forward, one step back.
This time, however, Erdogan took one step back, but took many steps forward. It was perhaps Turkey`s most spectacular U-turn in the course of many decades: The AKP government is loyal to its reform agenda; it will not legislate the Penal Code reforms without including the controversial adultery law but will as well act speedily to legislate further laws regarding trial procedures and the country`s judicial system and thus accelerate implementation of the reforms achieved over the past two years.
Though with some skepticism, what happened in Brussels on Thursday was indeed what we have been anticipating because no administration can turn a blind eye to the fundamental interests of the country just for the sake of satisfying some special groups, be they religious sheiks or whatever.
Europe as well will continue to analyze this "adultery crisis," as it provided some insight into the character of the ruling party in Ankara, both regarding its identity as well as its speed and agility in maneuvering from one end of the spectrum to the other.
According to one claim, the adultery crisis was intentionally created by the prime minister, reflecting his frustration with pressure from the EU Commission on Cyprus, Kurdish cultural rights and the Greek Orthodox seminary as well as the Armenian issue.
Again, according to the same claim the crisis was resolved after Ankara was assured that the EU would not pressure Turkey to abandon the derogations it has been demanding in the U.N. settlement plan -- one of the reasons the Greek Cypriots have cited for their 76 percent rejection of the plan last April -- or recognize the Greek Cypriot administration as the "government of Cyprus"; or undertake a program to spread cultural rights for its Kurdish people through local administrations -- a move that could be considered a demand for autonomy; or reopen the Greek Orthodox seminary on Halki Island; or open the border with Armenia and apologize for the 1915 incidents.
These appear to be elements of a farfetched plot scenario spread around in a face-saving bid. Anyhow, "We are Turks, this is Turkey, the EU cannot intervene in our internal affairs," but if adequately "motivated," we do see realities from time to time. That`s a summary of the past two weeks in Turkish-EU ties.