The Target is Full membership to the EU
By Balcicek PAMIR, True
TRUE, Society of European Journalists Year: 1, No. 7
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Aug 29 2005
Whenever I see the minister of foreign affairs Abdullah Gul, I want
to say ‘What’s going to happen with the EU?’. I suppose there are
many who are asking such questions, because he starts talking about
this before l even ask him. When Gul says ‘There is no reason to
feel hopeless, the doors of the European Union aren’t closed, but
are widely open’ , all l can do is to turn on the recorder to record
what he says. Abdullah Gul, whom l met within the Foreign Ministry
Residence, replies my question ‘Even against all these odds like the
negative opinions on the world press and the impositions, you are
saying that the doors are opened?’ with ‘From the intellectuals to
politicians to common people, all of us have a lack of confidence. We
can’t get over this’. We talked with the minister of foreign affairs
about the point where we stand and the future possibilities. I hope
that you’ll read the answers with interest.
We didn’t make a concession with the EU
Q : There is a widespread belief that we are giving too much to join
the Union. What do you think about this?
A.G : Everybody thinks that way. They believe that we aren’t
receiving anything in return for what we’re giving. This is totally
wrong. Actually, we didn’t give anything to the EU; we did what we
did for the Turkish people.
You are talking about the laws. For example, the Cyprus matter is
among the concessions.
A.G : What concessions? Did we give an inch of soil from Cyprus? I
think the critics don’t grasp the situation in Cyprus. For the first
time, a referendum was made under the supervision of the UN on the
island. There are two different communities there : Turks and Greeks.
The whole world saw that Cypriot Greeks didn’t assume a conciliatory
attitude. Perhaps, if such things were made in the past, ascension
of the Cypriot Greeks couldn’t be possible.
Q : Are you convinced when you say that?
A.G : Absolutely. There are many opportunities in Cyprus. Commercial
commissions have started entering the island. Serdar Denktaº is
traveling all over the world and is welcomed everywhere he goes.
But they aren’t recognized as a state…
A.G : In the past even such travels weren’t possible. There was
isolation. Now it’s slowly dissipating. I am also asking those who say
that we gave much but didn’t receive any. Aren’t the laws we made to
satisfy the political criteria important? I mean, if the communications
with Europe are stopped, will we have to revert from these reforms?
So, EU quickened what should be done.
A.G : Yes I have to admit that it did. We gave the Turkish people what
we couldn’t in the past. More freedom, more democracy, more rule of
law; we created an environment in which personal rights and freedoms
are guaranteed. EU became the impulsive force of this.
You are saying ‘We aren’t making concessions, we are creating huge
advantages. ‘Nobody refuses the reforms anyway.
A.G : Then look at the interest rates. They were about 24 percent
and are about 16 percent now.
Q : Are you talking about the interest of the loans we are paying?
A.G : Yes. Back then, turkey was getting loans with high interest
rates, now it’s different. All these are results of the negotiations
with the EU. Large finance groups observe Turkey as a country that
is negotiating with the EU. Our country’s economical and financial
status changed after 17 December because Turkey became a country with
a foreseeable future. Loaners saw that the future is more guaranteed
than before. Furthermore, the values of private companies increased
after 17 December. The value of government properties increased, too.
The same is true for real estate. They offered 3 million dollars for
Yesilkoy Airport. If we weren’t a reliable country, this price would
have been around 1 million dollars. Another example, we made a bid
about the technical examinations of the vehicles in traffic. We were
expecting 200 million dollars, but we reached 620 million dollars.
Because now investors are seeing a future. Banks of private sector
weren’t able to find customers, now they’re thinking about the price.
For example, Garanti Bank. There were no customers, but now it’s
different.
Q : Then why is there a negative atmosphere?
A.G : The unfortunate events we experienced in the past made us a
pessimist country. We didn’t get over it. Sometimes we can’t believe
that such bright futures are expecting us.
Q : There are those that are speaking negatively in Europe, people
who will affect EU’s future. For example Merkel, Sarkozy?
A.G : It’s all normal. Now, it’s important to see that there is no
paved way in front of us. We will experience descents and ascents.
Q : What are you planning about the Armenian Problem?
A.G : Now, that problem is spread into two parts. One is the
so-called Armenian genocide. We spoke against this entirely untrue
and not-acceptable idea already. Our course is set. The second part
is about developing the relations with Armenia. We are a country that
recognizes Armenia. Our diplomatic relations aren’t very strong but
we’ll do what we can to develop them.
RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
EU is concerned about the improvement of the relations with the
neighbors. The reason for their concern is, if the negotiations
result in our ascension, Turkey will become a border of EU. So they
will become neighbors with Armenia. So it’s natural that they are
concerned about this. Iran, Iraq, Syria and Georgia are also related
with the same subject.
Q : What do you think about Blair’s words ‘an EU without Turkey means
nationalism and foreigner enmity?
A.G : I agree. The nationalism in Europe is unlike ours. It’s more
like racism, and Europeans know the terrors of racism much better
than we do. That’s why I believe this warning is sound. Some European
countries have such tendencies. We face some foreign enmity in some
segments of the society conjecturally but this never lasts long.
Q : So is everything working perfectly about EU?
Everything is processing smoothly. This doesn’t mean there aren’t
any problems. We will have ascents and descents but we have to be
determined. Should I block the future of Turkey because I’m angered
by 600.000 people about the Cyprus problem?
Q : Were you expecting changes about the Negotiation Framework
Document?
A.G : There are no surprises. The Negotiation Framework Document,
dated 2014, I don’ t think it is right to discuss these because the
real decision is ours.
Q : What does ‘The real Decision is ours’ mean?
A.G : We will start the negotiations. They might take long. The really
important thing is that Turkey reaches the European Standards in many
sectors. What does it mean for the negotiations to end? An increase
in GDP, the progress of the western and eastern parts of our country
and the attainment of environmental beauty and health.
So the important thing is the point the stand.
Of course. Turkey should progress to become a European Country in all
respects. If we can’t achieve this, we can’t join the EU. But when we
succeed, it will be us who decides whether to join or not. What we have
to do is to prepare Turkey for a full membership. Especially increasing
the National Income per capita and correcting the income distribution.
Q : Is it possible that we might not need the EU when we reach
that point?
A.G : We won’t know what the political conjuncture will be at that
point. Who will be the politicians of the EU? What will be in Turkey?
Will the economical balance of the world be moved into Asia? Since
it’s impossible to answer these, I can’t answer your question. But
I know this; Turkish people may not choose to join the EU on that
day. So the last decision is ours for the EU.
Q : Do you think we can choose to say ‘no’ to the EU?
A.G : We will decide on that day actually. That’s why I don’t think
the date and framework debates are rational. If we are held up by
the decisions about the problems that EU countries have, we will lose
time. On the contrary, we should continue on our path.
Q : You are talking about the referendums that said ‘No’ to the
European constitution right?
A.G : Yes. I have some studies. According to these studies, Turkey is
a minor one of the reasons for the ‘no’ votes. 21st in one and 18th in
the other if I remember correctly. People of the EU countries didn’t
directly reject us. They have their own problems.
Yes, but Turkey is among the reasons.
Yes, but I’m saying that we shouldn’t be held up by this. We don’t
have time to deal with unnecessary touchiness. We have a not-so-easy
process in front of us. We have to be sure of ourselves. Again,
we don’t have a paved road ahead of us. As an example; am I going
to block the future of Turkey because I’m angered by 600.000 people
about the Cyprus problem? On the contrary, I will continue my path
by struggling. The framework of the negotiations is decided. A new
political condition or position isn’t possible.
–Boundary_(ID_KNRcdB3oHKqcahfZ0V/kLA)–