MILLIYET- Columnist Sami Kohen writes on recent developments in Turkey and their ramifications on the Turkish-EU relations. A summary of his column is as follows:
At first sight it seems as if the EU issue has been consigned to mere words and reforms have been shelved. In other words, basic political reforms which would open the EU membership path are on the back burner and the continuance of the coalition government has taken priority. In fact, the government has not abandoned its goal of integration with the EU. In a joint statement issued by the three coalition leaders at the beginning of the week, this goal was confirmed. However, some expressions in the statement have given rise to serious doubts over the importance and priority attached to the EU up to now. For example, the statement says that the studies to be conducted on the EU would not be allowed to adversely affect the future of the 57th government. In other words, they wanted to say let us go on with the coalition, and if necessary urgent issues relating to the EU may be delayed. Prime Minister’s Ecevit’s words to Fikret Bila supports these views: ‘It doesn’t necessarily follow that the coalition will be destroyed because we do not see eye-to-eye on every subject.’ In the same statement, the prime minister said that it would be unfair to expect more understanding and flexibility from MHP leader Bahceli on cultural rights. It seems that common ground will sought with the opposition on these issues. If an accord is reached, the Parliament will be called for an extradinary session. But what if no accord is reached? Then the EU goal will be left in words only, and reforms will be shelved. The stance of the government seems to have puzzled EU circles. The European diplomats cannot fathom how Ecevit will ensure harmonization with the Copenhagen criteria, which are considered ‘sine qua non’ by the EU. Diplomats are asking if Ecevit succeeds in having these reforms accepted, how will the government be able to carry out its commitments? How will the Copenhagen criteria will be applied? These doubts stem from the fact that the Copenhagen criteria are not well understood in Turkey. The Copenhagen criteria do not consist only of the abolition of the death penalty or allowing cultural rights. It is a package covering various freedoms, including those of expression and associations, assembly and others. Furthermore, the EU is closely following their implementations of these reform laws as well as their passage. In Brussels, the center of the EU, there are serious doubts on the issue. Certainly, if legal arrangements on these three sensitive issues can be carried out as soon as possible, the climate in Brussels and member countries will turn in favor of Turkey. However, there seems little hope that a signal beacon to the EU will be able to cut through Ankara’s thick political fog.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION