Turkish Press
Dec 27 2004

Turkey’s Millennium

BY ZEYNEL ABIDIN ERDEM

STAR- Turkey is now ready to integrate with the European community, a
group made up of developed countries respectful of democracy and
human rights. Since we Turks are hardworking, careful and friendly, I
believe that our partnership with the European Union could be formed
sooner than expected.

Let’s take a look the EU’s requirements of our country:

* Withdraw our troops from Cyprus. Recognize the Greek Cypriot
administration.

* Open the Heybeliada Seminary.

* Grant the Alawites minority rights

* Recognize the `ecumenical patriarch’

* Recognize the so-called Armenian genocide

* Abolish the National Security Council (NSC), or transform it into
an institution compatible with EU norms.

* Permit an international organization to manage the waters of The
Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

What must (or mustn’t) Turkey do during its membership negotiations?
All countries have their own `red lines,’ but it isn’t always
possible to retain all of them once your start negotiating. The most
important issues that Ankara will have to deal with during this
process will probably be the Cyprus issue, minority rights and
northern Iraq. Turkey must first take measures to protect its
territorial integrity from certain well-funded, well-organized groups
which can use such devastating means against our country as
terrorism.

We shouldn’t forget that Turkey isn’t like Belgium, France or Spain,
none of which have problems regarding their national borders. Of
course we’ll discuss these issues for 5-10 years, but what we will
say and accept in the initial phase of the negotiations will shape
our future course. We must discuss these issues from the very
beginning, and also try to find the best solutions possible for all
the parties involved.