STAR- Columnist Murat Celik writes on the European Union’s political criteria. A summary of his column is as follows:
‘I don’t want a bilingual Germany. The best method of integration is assimilation. Turkish education shouldn’t be allowed in Germany.’ These remarks came from German Interior Minister Otto Schilly three months ago in an interview with the most prominent daily of German political circles, Suddeutsche Zeitung.
‘Today in Britain, religious racism against Muslims is legal, and it’s not a crime to discriminate against them.’ These words are from a book entitled ‘Britain From a Different Point of View,’ which was published by the Eurasian Strategic Research Center (ASAM).
‘Some 70% of the Turkish population residing in Canada believe that they are subjected to racial discrimination.’ Here is another significant remark from a study entitled ‘Multiculturalism.’
It’s possible to adduce more examples. For instance, in the Netherlands, lectures on Islamic culture are given in Dutch in order to preserve the linguistic integrity of the country. In Greece, no ethnic group, including the Turkish population in western Thrace, are considered a legal ‘minority.’
Now after all these examples, let’s recall the political criteria set out by the European Union against Turkey in its EU membership bid. It seems that other European countries aren’t being held to these political criteria. Taking into consideration these discriminatory practices, it’s clear that the EU is applying double standards in its relations with Turkey. I don’t mean that contemporary European standards can’t be implemented in our country. We are all responsible for advancing human rights and improving our democracy for the future of this country. However, my point is to remind the European countries of their own misguided policies. In brief, the message to be conveyed to the EU by our politicians should go along the following lines: ‘We will improve our democracy, but you should cease your discriminatory practices.’ This must be our response to the pressure we are currently facing. However, Ankara is unfortunately often late to speak up in such situations.”
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION