TURKIYE- Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna recounts a brief history of Turkish-EU relations. A summary of his column is as follows:
Greece became a member of the European Uinon on Jan. 1, 1981, even before Spain, Portugal, Austria, Sweden and Finland. Turkey began talks for official membership at the foundation of the EU in 1959. Prime Minister Inonu continued the initiatives launched by Menderes before him by signing the Rome agreement. In 1974, both Turkey and Greece were invited into the Union. Greece accepted the invitation but Turkey asked for ten years' more time. This was the greatest mistake, blunder and error made in the twentieth century by the Turkish Republic. Looking at the situation in Turkey today, we can see what we have lost by this decision. However, Europe has also lost with this decision. Yet Europe without Turkey cannot see what it has lost. It didn't raise academics or politicians who could understand this. Some Europeans who say that Turkey wasn't a European country are forgetting the fact under the 1856 Paris Agreement that they accepted Turkey as one of the seven greatest states in the world. There is no need to mention that Turkey is a great market, or has the youngest population or the most powerful army or an important geostrategic location. Europeans are known for not getting along with people from other cultures. They have seen people of other cultures as masses bound to be exploited. They have put forth pretty-sounding principles but have been hard pressed in impelementing them. In the last century it tried to destroy itself twice over 20 years, lost half of the continent to communism, and ceded world leadership to the US. Turkey is the most convenient, sound bridge which will help Europe to adopt a humanistic view. Turkey, as it has lost the EU membership, has also harmed the EU. However, it is in Europe's hands to make up for this loss. There are those in Europe who are now thinking about it.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION