By Yusuf Kanli
TDN- We have to see that the Europeans have the right to debate and decide their own future, because Turkey`s inclusion will produce an EU much different than what we now have. To be sure, an EU that includes Turkey will not be a Christian club. Turkey`s accession will introduce a totally new dimension to the EU

Turkish, German and French leaders met in Berlin on Tuesday to sign a deal for the purchase of 36 airplanes from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for Turkish national carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) at a cost of about $2.8 billion (2.2 billion euros), and naturally to talk political business: Turkey`s prospect of getting from the Dec. 17 European Council meeting a condition-free date for the start of accession talks "without delay."
The Berlin trip, which will apparently not be the last by the Turkish top brass in their bid to put pressure on EU leaders ahead of the Dec. 17 summit, would have been a great PR opportunity for Turkey had French President Jacques Chirac agreed to a joint three-party press meeting. Still, the occasion must have helped the French leader explain to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he need not be panicked by hearing the "referendum" word from European countries.
We have to understand that not only German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and President Chirac but all European leaders are under pressure from their constituents, who unfortunately are not at all lukewarm towards Turkey for a variety of reasons, led by the Islamic character of this country, its vast size and poor economic level. There are fears that the EU would become obsolete with Turkey`s inclusion.
Whatever the motives, Turkey must respect the opposition to its EU accession in European countries and try to help EU leaders clarify to their public that on Dec. 17 Ankara will not be getting a green accession card but rather a date to launch a lengthy process that would take it to membership provided we don`t suffer some major road accidents which could derail the entire process.
We have to see that Europeans have the right to debate and decide on their own future, because Turkey`s inclusion will produce an EU much different than what we now have. To be sure, an EU that includes Turkey will not be a Christian club. Turkey`s accession will introduce a totally new dimension to the EU.
Besides, who knows for sure how the Turkish people will vote when the accession talks process is completed and polling booths are opened for a referendum on accession? Many Turks may opt to stay out of Europe as well. That`s not the discussion of the day, however.
There`s no need to be offended by the "talks will be open-ended" suggestion of the European Commission or annoyed with the suspension-of-talks clause if Turkey persistently deviates from the reform process.
With or without those phrases, although all previous accession talks have ended in EU membership, our process might not reach the desired end, or the talks might be suspended. Everything depends on what we do and how we behave during this process, bearing in mind the reality that it is Turkey hoping to join the EU, not the EU wanting to join Turkey.
We first have to concentrate our efforts on getting a date "without delay" -- which should not be taken as January 2005 but rather the first half of next year -- and then launching a comprehensive promotion campaign to explain what Turkey really is to the European people.
Without doubt, the EU governments must help us in this drive as well, but it is primarily our responsibility to demonstrate what we are and what we are not. We shouldn`t forget that we cannot impose ourselves on Europe, irrespective how much we deserve to be in the club.
We have to show the Europeans that it is in the very best interest of each and every EU citizen to have Turkey included in the union.