SABAH- Columnist Okay Gonensin comments on Turkey’s EU membership bid. A summary of his columns is as follows:
What will happen if Turkey closes in on itself with meaningless and destructive discussions?
It remains a country uncomfortably in the same league as Syria and Iran, struggling with its worsened domestic problems and still mired in debates over democracy. Investments continue to fall, unemployment is rising and as a result, our social problems have become intractable.
The first way to make Turkey even more like its Mideast neighbors is to block Turkey’s path to EU membership. Who would take responsibility for that? Who would dare raise his children in a country like Syria, Iran or Iraq?
The decision of the EU to begin negotiations with Turkey depends on Turkey’s upcoming steps to implement its commitments. If these steps are taken within next two months, the EU has no choice other than to begin the negotiations.
Now, Parliament, the government, the president and all the parties in Parliament have an enormous responsibility.
Certain circles are disturbed by the Motherland Party’s (ANAP) and its leader Mesut Yilmaz’s focus on this topic. They think that if Turkey takes steps on the EU membership process, ANAP and Yilmaz will get the political credit.
However, if Turkey successfully passes the most important thresholds in its road to the EU membership, clearly the credit for this will belong neither to a person nor a party. This will be a step shared and approved by at least 80% of the public with its all parties and institutions. This honor will belong to this entire generation for thinking of their children’s future.
On the other hand, the responsibility for keeping Turkey consigned to Syria’s league would be very high, and would constitute a kind of treason against the country.”
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION