BY ERGUN BABAHAN
SABAH- There is a strong lobby which wants to make Turkey pay for the tensions of others. This group, which wants to tie Turkey’s membership to the critical European Union referendum, undermines the idea that beliefs should coexist in peace. The article published yesterday under the headline ‘How Can We Accept Those Who Say “The Minarets are our Bayonets” to the EU?’ is the most striking example of this.
Actually the ultimate goal of the authors of this article is to enable the EU to continue its path without any growing pains. It seems that the parliamentarians, fearing that a ‘yes’ vote may not emerge from the May 29 referendum, are trying to stop Turkey with these methods. This piece has no value either morally or legally. It only serves to offend Turkey and the Turks.
Turkey, which set its sights on European Union membership back in 1963, has made much progress over 40 years which will make it a part of Europe. Those who directly target the political power in Turkey and its leaders overlook an important historical truth:
Keeping Turkey outside the EU, would fuel the clash between religions. The real thing that the EU should consider is the immutable quality of the Turkish Republic. On the contrary, shutting Turkey outside Europe may endanger the secular and democratic nature of Turkey.
If a party against the secular system were to come to power here, such a situation could be overcome by democratic methods, as in Australia, not by shutting Turkey out.
Anybody who claims to be intellectual must play their role in preventing repetitions of September 11.