To Continue Or To Drag Along?

MILLIYET- Columnist Mehmet Tezkan writes on Turkey’s EU membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:
Is it necessary for Turkey to enter the EU? Even if they are not admitting it frankly, there are many political movements and persons who would say that the answer is no. In the same vein, we know that many circles in Europe share the same view. This is not the only point which those who are against the EU in Turkey and the circles which view the European Union a kind of ‘Christian values club’ agree on. The second view held jointly is expressed as ‘Europe cannot give up on Turkey’ by the circles in the country. Those opposed to the membership of Turkey in the EU share this view to a great extent. They prefer to keep Turkey by the side of Europe, not in it. There are many examples showing that the economic cooperation between the two which reached its peak with the Customs Union can be continued on international political issues. For the circles within the EU, Turkey carries an important place as the watchman of borders on the East. This means a kind of ‘bumper state’ between Iran, other Arab countries and the West, and therefore has a vital importance. Can Turkey survive without being a member of the EU? Certainly. Even though this cannot be defined as surviving but rather dragging along, such a project can be carried out. It is possible to manage our revenues and live while withdrawing within our borders. But this may create a host of problems. This means to forsake growing, or rather accept negative growth. In recent history, there were countries following such a policy, such as Romania under Ceausescu’s rule... The revenues of the country were spent on arming and ostentatious investments...During this period the Romanians lived under difficult conditions. There are others who choose to live like this today. Countries like Uzbekistan and Iraq are imprisoning themselves within their borders and protecting themselves against what they see as possible dangers coming from abroad. Even though we may not like this lifestyle, we may do that. In such a case, you can hang anyone you like, imprison others who say things you would not want to be heard, and get used to living in a continual crisis atmosphere, and even accept the political-economic gains or losses according to changes in world circumstances. If we do that, we will see in no time that the appearance of the country will change. Roughly, Turkey will grow old, diminish and get poorer before our eyes. Turkey’s location is such that if we are left alone, it is inevitable for Turkey to arm. Therefore we will have to allot a greater portion of the budget for armaments. The budget left for us to manage will never allow us to reach the standards we are accustomed to but do not care for even today. We shall either be a nation which keeps on growing, elevating our standards of living, suffering so as to leave a brighter future for our children or one which gets smaller every day, with no hope of a future. Mr. Bahceli and Mrs. Ciller are trying to exploit politics on such a choice.

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