CUMHURIYET- Columnist Ali Sirmen writes on the recent discussions over the acceptance of EU adaptation laws. A summary of his column is as follows:
The Parliament will convene on Monday. Everyone is wondering if the process to pass the EU harmonization bills will be started. Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Mesut Yilmaz, who saw his party has lost most of its voters, seems like a statesman who is ready and determined to do everything he can for Turkey's EU membership bid. The other party leaders are putting forward some excuse or another to evade the issue. Deputies are already caught in the climate of elections which will not solve any issue at all. The bosses in the press are harshly criticizing the politicians by causing us to miss the EU train. The press wants Turkey to enter the EU, and the deputies are concerned with the coming elections. In such an atmosphere, can a positive development be expected on the EU issue? There is no need for any expectations. I would like to call on the deputies to say, 'Let's leave the EU adaptation laws aside, let us be the one who have abandoned the issue.' In fact there is no point in discussing the issue at this time. I would like to make clear that I am in favor of entering the EU. However, neither the EU wants Turkey nor does Turkey want the EU under these circumstances. Do not let the polls do mislead you. The results of all polls demonstrate a willingness on the part of a majority of the people for EU membership. However, the same public doesn't want to fulfill the 'sine qua non' commitments for the EU such as the Copenhagen criteria. Therefore if questions are asked properly, I believe the answers in the polls will come out differently. The greatest problem in a country is not the confusion of its politicians but rather that of its people.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION