CUMHURIYET- Columnist Toktamis Ates writes on Turkish-EU relations. A summary of his column is as follows:
I would like to emphasize the fact that I am in favor of Turkey’s entrance to the EU and do not want to think of Turkey being left out of the organization. I believe that such a situation would be disaster for our nation. But... There are two points coming after this ‘but.’ The first one is the reluctance of an significant majority of the EU member countries to admit Turkey into the Union in the foreseeable future. The second one is that it is undignified to accept all the conditions put forth by the EU in order to enter the organization. Some writers and ‘know-it-all’s are displaying a dishonorable stand on the issue. If people merely voice the concerns on their minds, they are immediately labeled as being against the country’s admittance to the EU. These labelers think that no fears should be expressed, and all concessions be made without batting an eye and no bargaining should take place. These spineless people who see the EU as the guarantee of rights and democracy ironically adopt an antidemocratic stand against those who do not think in exactly as they do. In Turkey the ruling power defends the admittance of the country into the Union. However, even though some want it unconditionally, some others believe that necessary bargaining should be made and some measures should be taken. In Turkey, the circles against the EU can be found mostly among the low-income sections. Such a discussion took place over Kemalism in Turkey some time ago. They had claimed that those defending Kemalism had benefited the most from the establishment. In fact, they were the ones availing themselves of the benefits of the established order. If there had not been Kemalist enlightenment, where would they have been? How much academic knowledge could they have acquired? In a strange coincidence, those against Kemalism are in favor of entering the EU unconditionally. It seems that we will discuss this question for a long time to come.

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