HURRIYET- Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on recent developments concerning Turkey's bid for European Union membership. A summary of his columns is as follows:
The recently heightened discussions between Turkey and the EU have revealed a number of truths. Those who are against Turkey's integration with the EU do not see this issue in terms of EU membership. The discussion is not about possible economic results of this membership in Turkey. Nor this is not about what sorts of responsibilities and authority that the Turkish nation will have. The essence of the discussion is focused on the Cyprus and Kurdish issues. Turkey had been looking for solutions to these problems even before it became a EU candidate. As our political tradition is based on the view that the demands of the people and the state's safety priorities conflict with each other, the wish that a solution be found to these two problems has been interpreted as an "insistence" on the EU's part. Some have tried to create the impression that if Turkey gives up its EU membership goal, it will be freed from its obligation to solve these problems. This is clearly impossible. But is there an alternative? National Security Council (MGK) Secretary-General Gen. Tuncer Kilinc's recent comments about Iran and Russia point to an important issue. Gen. Kilinc says that Turkey should focus itself towards forging new ties with Iran and Russia. This would be a wise move. In any case, Turkey is carrying out its policy of developing relations not only with Russia and Iran, but also with all its neighbors. Turkish foreign policy is shaping up to be a Turkey at peace with its neighbors. During the United Nations' General Assembly meeting late last year, the Turkish and Russian foreign ministers signed a very important agreement to deepen cooperation between the two states. Although Turkey has certain problems with Iran concerning the PKK terrorist organization, it has signed agreements on security and natural gas with that country as well. The latter is a very important development in terms of economic relations. Of course these relations should be developed much more. It is more to Turkey's advantage to form cooperative agreements in Central Asia and the Caucasus rather than trying to compete with Russia and Iran. Such cooperation is very important in terms of regional stability as well, and could guarantee energy security. But can such cooperation be an alternative to the EU? Even if we give up our EU membership, Turkey can never forsake its focus on the Kurdish and Cyprus issues, nor can new ties with Russia and Iran be an alternative to Turkey's EU membership. A secret report prepared by the US Pentagon was leaked to the press last week. The report says that the US will develop new nuclear weapons to be used against Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and North Korea. Turkey's neighbors are thus in the crosshairs of US nuclear weapons.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION