BY ZEYNEL ABIDIN ERDEM
STAR- Turkey is now ready to integrate with the European community, a group made up of developed countries respectful of democracy and human rights. Since we Turks are hardworking, careful and friendly, I believe that our partnership with the European Union could be formed sooner than expected.
Let’s take a look the EU’s requirements of our country:
* Withdraw our troops from Cyprus. Recognize the Greek Cypriot administration.
* Open the Heybeliada Seminary.
* Grant the Alawites minority rights
* Recognize the ‘ecumenical patriarch’
* Recognize the so-called Armenian genocide
* Abolish the National Security Council (NSC), or transform it into an institution compatible with EU norms.
* Permit an international organization to manage the waters of The Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
What must (or mustn’t) Turkey do during its membership negotiations? All countries have their own ‘red lines,’ but it isn’t always possible to retain all of them once your start negotiating. The most important issues that Ankara will have to deal with during this process will probably be the Cyprus issue, minority rights and northern Iraq. Turkey must first take measures to protect its territorial integrity from certain well-funded, well-organized groups which can use such devastating means against our country as terrorism.
We shouldn’t forget that Turkey isn’t like Belgium, France or Spain, none of which have problems regarding their national borders. Of course we’ll discuss these issues for 5-10 years, but what we will say and accept in the initial phase of the negotiations will shape our future course. We must discuss these issues from the very beginning, and also try to find the best solutions possible for all the parties involved.