BY ULUC GURKAN
STAR- When can Turkey join the EU? The leaked draft statement prepared by EU Term President the Netherlands doesn’t answer this question. In addition, French daily Liberation wrote, ‘Turkey can’t become an EU member before 2015 or 2020.’ The EU is giving Turkey a process of membership negotiations lasting more than 15 years but isn’t guaranteeing full membership. It also stated that talks might be suspended if human rights violations continue. The approval of two-thirds of the 25 EU countries is envisaged to decide on this issue. The draft statement doesn’t say that Turkey should give up full membership and accept a special status. However, it also doesn’t guarantee that this emphasis on special status won’t be added to the final document at the Dec. 17 EU summit at France’s behest. Actually, what’s envisaged for Turkey doesn’t seem to be full membership. The draft statement clearly said that free movement might be permanently limited. Obviously, if Turkey becomes a full member, the EU will be under some pressure, so such limitations are natural. Likewise, this was tried for other new members. However, these limitations can’t be valid for full members.
It’s understood that during our membership talks process, we will face a great many difficult conditions. The most important of these are recognizing Greek Cyprus, solving our Aegean disputes in favor of Greece, and recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide. Turkey can’t accept these conditions by insisting on EU membership as our only aim. Accepting them would mean giving up being a nation. Turkey should be a real negotiator after Dec. 17. The way to ensure this isn’t resisting all these conditions. Turkey should implement certain arrangements which will improve its democracy and respect for human rights. In addition, it should begin human-oriented development. Claims of bad treatment and torture should end and the use of excessive force in the fight against terrorism should stop. Turkey should take steps to bring its democracy to world standards on its own, not at the EU’s insistence. Turkey and Turks have the power and experience to integrate advanced democracy with our own national values.