SABAH- Columnist Gungor Mengi writes on Turkey’s relations with the EU and a new proposal regarding the issue. A summary of his column is as follows:
The Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) is right in saying that Turkey’s EU membership should not be used as a tool for internal politics. In its full-page ads, TUSIAD declares that the time has come for a decision. ‘Turkey is at a crossroads. It will be clear what kind of Turkey we will leave to our youth this year. Do we want to leave them a Turkey where the standard of living is high and democratic values are implemented at the highest level, and which has a strong economy providing its youth with education and employment opportunities? Or do we want to leave them a Turkey where economic tremors continue and the future is uncertain due to unstable politics?’ This is a choice between heaven and hell, and no politician can defend hell. However, the provocations and intrigues of irresponsible politicans may pave the road to hell. The True Path Party (DYP) and Justice and Development Party (AKP), with an eye on the votes of the grassroots of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), do not want to be responsible for Turkey’s missing the chance of being admitted into the EU. However, they both know that the EU is more important than the continuation of the government. If the political provocations they have based on the Ocalan issue trap the MHP, the government will be dissolved and a new government open to the EU will be looked for. They are playing on this possibility. We hope MHP leader Bahceli will be wise enough not sacrifice the values of change he has brought to his party for a provocation over Ocalan. In fact, the real question is not the execution of Ocalan, but the fear that his pardon may come up in a few years. A strong leadership could solve the issue, but at the moment there is no such leader in Turkey. Today, its expected that the military will present suggestions on the abolition of the death penalty and on broadcasting and education in mother tongues at the National Security Council (MGK) meeting. We hope that politicians can find a way without needing the help of the military for a choice between heaven and hell.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION