SABAH- Columnist Gungor Mengi writes on the debates regarding the European Convention. A summary of his column is as follows:
Participating in the European Convention which is discussing the future of the European Union is an important opportunity for Turkey. We must benefit from this opportunity to the best of our ability. We have to use this important organization as means to reach the European people. In general, we are complaining of the EU’s indifference to ourselves. As it doesn’t lead to any solution on the issue, it results in the deepening of distrust towards the EU in Turkey. That is why we are getting farther away from our goal as we would like to be nearing it. When seen from Europe, the debates over the issue make it seem as if our ardor for the EU target is cooling. The just reasons for these debates are not understood. Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, in a press conference in Brussels where he went to attend the Convention, explained that the suspicions over the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) opposition to the EU were groundless. Secondly, he underlined the selfishness of Europe on the issue of terrorism. He added that the mistrust in the army stemmed from this fact. Turkey had reacted to the EU’s exclusion of the PKK and DHKP-C from its terrorist organizations list and than received a reply that the EU was ‘studying the issue.’ What exactly is the EU studying? Yilmaz said that the studies were looked into whether these organizations posed a danger to the EU member countries. ‘The damage they are inflicting on Turkey is not a criterion for them.’ True, even after the Sept. 11 attacks, Europe has acted in this way regarding the US. This selfishness will make them bitterly regret these actions in the future. Yilmaz must use the platform of the European Convention to make them face their weaknesses in stronger terms and with documentation. Up to now, we have pardoned Greece and Germany in a sense. It shows that they don’t understand from politeness. If Europe is saying he who doesn’t touch us can do whatever he wants, Turkey has the right to say that it will not be to blame for the things that follow. Such a fight doesn’t mean excommunicating the European Union. We see membership in the EU as the meeting point of modern civilization. If this is neglecting the fight against terrorism out of pitiful self-interest, opposing it is not only our right but also our duty ... Turkey is moving forward to get in step with the EU criteria by the debates within the country and occasionally settling old accounts. It also knows that if Turkey’s membership is not in line with Europe’s interests, the country will not be admitted to the organization even if it achieves the impossible. We cannot refrain from pointing out the faults and shortcomings of a family we would like to enter. If they can say that ‘we don’t consider organizations which wage a racist struggle, commit massacres to this end and finance their actions by narcotics trafficking as terrorists,’ let them say it. Everyone should rest assured that we will not lose as long as we stand tall. No family can punish a society claiming its right. If it does so, it punishes itself!

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION