Turkish Press
Dec 2 2004

History Of The E.U.

BY ULUC GURKAN

STAR- When can Turkey join the EU? The leaked draft statement
prepared by EU Term President the Netherlands doesn’t answer this
question. In addition, French daily Liberation wrote, `Turkey can’t
become an EU member before 2015 or 2020.’ The EU is giving Turkey a
process of membership negotiations lasting more than 15 years but
isn’t guaranteeing full membership. It also stated that talks might
be suspended if human rights violations continue. The approval of
two-thirds of the 25 EU countries is envisaged to decide on this
issue. The draft statement doesn’t say that Turkey should give up
full membership and accept a special status. However, it also doesn’t
guarantee that this emphasis on special status won’t be added to the
final document at the Dec. 17 EU summit at France’s behest. Actually,
what’s envisaged for Turkey doesn’t seem to be full membership. The
draft statement clearly said that free movement might be permanently
limited. Obviously, if Turkey becomes a full member, the EU will be
under some pressure, so such limitations are natural. Likewise, this
was tried for other new members. However, these limitations can’t be
valid for full members.

It’s understood that during our membership talks process, we will
face a great many difficult conditions. The most important of these
are recognizing Greek Cyprus, solving our Aegean disputes in favor of
Greece, and recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide. Turkey can’t
accept these conditions by insisting on EU membership as our only
aim. Accepting them would mean giving up being a nation. Turkey
should be a real negotiator after Dec. 17. The way to ensure this
isn’t resisting all these conditions. Turkey should implement certain
arrangements which will improve its democracy and respect for human
rights. In addition, it should begin human-oriented development.
Claims of bad treatment and torture should end and the use of
excessive force in the fight against terrorism should stop. Turkey
should take steps to bring its democracy to world standards on its
own, not at the EU’s insistence. Turkey and Turks have the power and
experience to integrate advanced democracy with our own national
values.