BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA
AKSAM- Now Turkey will certainly get a date for European Union membership negotiations. The truly difficult process will follow. The negotiations will influence both our fate and the shape of our domestic policies. The future of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) depends on its performance in Turkey’s EU membership process. Obviously we’ll have tough discussions. When we try to comply with EU standards, we might come across certain difficult conditions. However, we should believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. There were similar discussions during Britain’s membership process. Charles de Gaulle rejected Britain’s EU membership application many times, calling it not yet ready. Finally Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1973, and we too will become an EU member sooner or later. However, clearly this won’t happen before 2014. During the negotiations beginning next year, the AKP’s stance and skill will determine its longevity. This issue is important because the EU process will determine our country’s domestic politics as well. Of course when the EU makes a decision, it will consider its influence on our domestic politics. Could you imagine a situation in which the concept of sovereignty and such critical matters as the unitary state, the Kurdish language, the implementation of the Maastricht criteria and agricultural arrangements are discussed? Let’s not forget the issues of Cyprus and minorities. When I remember how the tensions rose over such a simple subject as adultery, it troubles me. However, we remain hopeful.
The AKP bears an enormous responsibility. When we turn this historic corner, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will have to make very difficult decisions. Adultery won’t be on an artificial agenda, but it will be in discussions between the AKP’s base and the EU. Nobody talks or writes about it, but this issue of EU membership will shape the presidential elections to be held in 2007, the next general elections and even political power into the 2010s. We’ll all see what will happen.