Zaman, Turkey
Sept 22 2004

‘EU Membership Process at Risk’

Emre Soncan, Yasin Uygur
Istanbul

Several Turkish academics and experts suggest that the Turkish Penal
Code (TCK) crisis occurring between Ankara and the Europe Union (EU)
could jeopardize Turkey’s membership process.

Some of those experts told Zaman that they wanted the government to
tread more carefully from here on out.

Economic Development Foundation President Davut Okutcu charges that
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statements are a
strategic mismatch in timing. To Okutcu, those statements about the
issue created confusion both within and without. He is adamant that
the TCK must be approved by October 6th because the penal code is the
fundamental text that the legal sphere relies upon when applying
reforms.

Okutcu goes on to say that the latest developments played straight
into the hands of those who have reservations about Turkey’s EU
membership. Okutcu also does not agree with Erdogan’s statement that
the EU should not interfere in Turkey’s internal affairs. The
Foundation president is of the opinion that the EU Commission was not
interfering in Turkey’s internal matters, but rather simply reminding
Turkey of the commitment it had made to reform.

Professor Kemal Kirisci, a faculty member at Bogazici University,
sees the government’s latest ploy as a joke. Just as Turkey was on
the verge of convincing Europeans to say ‘yes’ to Turkey’s
membership, it aroused the suspicion of those who support the
country’s EU membership. Now those supporters are thinking twice,
explains Kirisci. He considers now that even if Turkey tries to fix
its fault, its full membership date will come later than expected.

TESEV Foreign Policy Program Director Sabiha Sanyucel remarks that
the discussion date will be given despite everything that occurred.
According to Sanyucel, if the prime minister continues to rub the EU
the wrong way, a strong “yes, but” will be the decision of the EU at
the December summit.

In addition, EU expert and Referans daily newspaper writer Can
Baydarol comments that Erdogan’s stance is an indicator that Turkey
does not know what to do about the EU issue. Baydarol points out that
the harsh statements Erdogan made were evaluated as an assault on EU
values.

Continues Baydarol, “Of course Turkey has a strategic importance for
the EU. However, Erdogan should be calmer and more open to
compromise. The EU will not burn its bridges after such statements,
but the discussion date may be delayed. Now the Europeans are putting
the Armenian card before us. While saying that we passed the critical
threshold they will put down new criteria. Turkey’s confidence has
been eroding for a long time.”