BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
TURKIYE- Turkey’s steps into the European Union are making waves. We know that foreign policy is very selfish and unfaithful, but it should be based upon legal interests and realities. On the eastern wing of NATO, for years we defended Europe against the Soviets. We even entered the EU Customs Union. Not Rome, but Istanbul was the capital of the Roman Empire governing all of Europe during the fourth century. I wonder if Istanbul isn’t on the European continent. How could Turkey be excluded when ‘Cyprus,’ which lies near the coast of Asia, has become an EU member?
Today certain countries with no history of democracy and whose rulers violated all human rights and presided over closed economies are EU members. When we were invited with Greece for EU membership [in the early 70s], we rejected it. So we are the victims of an incompetent and ineffective policy and we cannot be punished by breaking off the European system. Not for a long time has Turkey been so popular in both Europe and the US. Obviously it’s very important for Turkey to be an EU member. Europe is well aware that Turkey will go through a historic crossroads. If we do our best and play our cards well, we will take our place in the premier league.