TURKEY BEGINS TALKS WITH EU

Europe Concerned in Keeping Turkey in its Orbit

Azg/am
7 Oct 04

On October 6 the European Commission, as it was expected, offered
starting EU accession talks with Turkey. 28 members of the commission
out of 30 voted for the beginning of the talks and only Fritz
Bolkestein, Holland, and Pascal Lamin, France, voted against. Ankara
is satisfied with the start of the talks in general but complains of
some points of the report and especially of the attached package of
regulations that is to be presented to the EU leaders.

Though the report points out that Turkey partly follows Copenhagen
political criteria, has reduced army’s role in the country, pays more
attention to the human rights, freedom of religion and the national
minorities, it still underscores the reforms are not practiced
properly.

The start of accession talks does not mean that Turkey is a EU member,
but Europe may stop the talks any time.

The Commission report includes the cases of the talks’ interruption:
“In case European Commission considers the process of reforms
endangered”. When the reform process can be â=80=98endangered’?
Gyunduz Aktan answers the question in October 7 issue of Radical. “In
case the role of the army is restored in the country, and Turkey takes
undesirable steps in foreign policy”, he writes. Aktan also points out
military actions against neighboring countries. “Armyâ=80=99s
restored” role means, allegedly, a military overthrow of the
government.

Ankara is displeased with the fact that the EU leaders have to decide
on the deadline of EU accession talks. Turkey is afraid that new
points may be included in the report.

The possibility of the “Recognition of the Republic of Cyprus”
suggested by Bolkestein and the “Armenian Genocide Recognition”
suggested by Lamin that were not included in the package attached to
the report, due to Gunter Verheugen’s (according to Turkish press),
Enlargement commissioner, efforts make Turkey worry. Meanwhile,
Patrick Devedjian, minister of industry of France, began talks with
members of the European Commission trying to convince them to include
the Turkey-Armenia border-gate opening as a precondition for
accession.

The suggestion EU states and government made Turkey by the report does
not oblige Turkey anything as the talks do not oblige Turkey’s
membership in the EU. Thus, it becomes clear that European
Commission’s purpose is to keep Turkey in the orbit of European
states, not making Turkey a EU member but keeping it beside.

By Hakob Chakrian