KurdishInfo, Germany
Oct 1 2005
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‘Main problems in EU route: Kurdish, Armenian and Cyprus problems’
ANKARA (DIHA) – Turkey gained the right to register in university and
that does not mean the university is finished. I do not suppose that
Turkey will face with technical problems. The main problems will be
Kurdish, Armenian and Cyprus problems which are political ones.”
…says Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Baðcý from METU International Relationships
Department. He said Turkey does not have the right to say ‘No’ to EU
as that will cause an enmity to last for years.
In the process covered so far, the EU should not do wrong to Turkey
as she fulfilled the political conditions event though there are
gaps, said Mr. Baðcý.
The Kurdish, Armenian and Cyprus problems
Stating that the regulations were not put into practice, Prof. Dr.
Baðcý said: “The important thing is the way that Turkey will follow
during the process which will not be an easy one. There will be
political problems such as the Kurdish, Armenian and Cyprus problems
rather than the technical problems.”
He also added that the EU’ politics on Cyprus problem is wrong thus
accelerate the movements against EU.
“The poor does not want to separate from the rich in the world
history but in Turkey, it is the rich that tells the poor not to
separate from them. This problem should be resolved with democratic
ways not in awkward and unskillful terms. Let the Kurds go to
Kurdistan if they long for that, then the problems like
purse-snatching and robbery will lessen, says some. It is easy to say
‘go’ but they have properties here. That will create a new serious
immigration wave.” said he.
The role of the Kurdish politicians
Stating that the EU process has contributed to the Kurdish problems
by causing it to be discussed, Mr. Baðcý said: “The resolution is
related to the Kurdish politicians’ remaining in a democratic
structuring in Turkey. There is a Kurdish movement causing rebellions
since 1920s. With the rebellions, the Kurds say there is a problem.
The politicians admitted the Kurdish reality. That is not enough as
there is not a resolution yet. There is not a political structuring
in Turkey that can maintain a resolution. If Turkey can fulfill her
duties, she can be proposed as a candidate for the European
Parliament elections in 2019. The duties of Turkey in the process
will be determined under 31 titles in Negotiation Framework. These
duties go from the environmental security to hospitals, education,
law and many other fields to raise the standards in Turkey. If the
country can continue the negotiations without cease, 10 years later a
very different Turkey will come out. The time passes in favor of
Turkey. The EU after 10 years will need Turkey more than today.
Despite the all tensions, the relationships develop in favor of
Turkey.
‘There is a problem of starting a dialog process’
Another academic Prof. Dr. Duygu Sezer from Bilkent University
International Relationships Department said the regulations will take
time to be put into practice. He also said the democratic criterions
have not been implemented yet and the both sides should allocate time
to each other. Pointing out that the Kurdish problem is a bit
complex, he said: “First of all, freedom of speech and opinion should
be maintained. Meeting right and recognizing the cultural rights are
among the primary rights. There should not be relaxation unless these
rights are allocated. But the problem is to start a dialog process
between the Turkish and Kurdish politicians which can only be with
great sacrifices. There is nationalist circle, a middle one and a
resistant one among the Turks and the same applies to the Kurds.
There can not be a resolution if the extremes are not left. The
Kurdish politicians claim one flag and one land but not one language
which is a good development. Both sides have political bases. They
have to satisfy these bases so the resolution will take time.
A ten-year-long process
Mentioning to the Additional Protocol of European Parliament, Sezer
said:” These kinds of outflows damages the peace atmosphere tried to
be created in Turkey. We consider the EU process as a peace
atmosphere that closes us to each other. When powerful cracked voices
are raised in European Parliament, our searches are being influenced
adversely. The accession talks will start on Oct. 3 and the
membership will take at least a ten-year-long process.
Turn for Turkey
The chairman of Turkey-EU Association Prof. Dr. Haluk Günoður claimed
that the decisions of EP are advises rather than political decisions.
He said: “The Europe told what it would say; now it is turn for
Turkey. If they insist on recognizing the South Cyprus, then Turkey
had already explained that she will not be in such a deal. The
negotiations will start but if the conditions are as strict as those
decided by EP, the negotiation process can not be completed.”
“In the Cyprus problem Turkey did what can be done but in Kurdish
problem the situation is different. They are considered as minorities
by EU but Turkey does not think so. This problem will stay on the
agenda for long. Especially the army and nationalist circles do not
believe the problem will be resolved with discussion. The problem is
not an easy one.” added Mr. Günoður.