‘A SHARED FUTURE IS THE WAY FORWARD’
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 3 2005
By Foreign News Desk
zaman.com
As the last stage in Turkey’s adventure towards the EU has started,
the European media pointed out the importance of Turkey’s membership
for Europe and the world.
The British newspaper, The Observer, in the column published with
the title “We need Turkey,” wrote that there are strong reasons to
start negotiations with Turkey.
The editorial that writes, “A shared future is the way forward,”
noted, objections in the public opinion will not be enough to prevent
Turkey’s candidature.
The newspaper cited the following as the points in which Europe needs
Turkey: “Europe needs Turkey as a custodian of prosperity and democracy
and as an exemplar and anchor for all the countries that surround
it. It needs Turkish labor and the Turkish guarantee of oil and gas
from central Asia. Above all, it needs to send a positive message to
the 12 million or so Muslims, who already live within Europe.”
The Independent, on Sunday said those who think Turkey’s membership is
necessary to protect the West’s relationships with the Muslim world
are making a mistake, “The reason why Turkey’s application should be
supported is because it is right for Europe, for Turkey and for the
advancement of universal human rights.”
The newspaper’s editor wrote Austria’s attitude towards Turkey goes
beyond xenophobia, as he said, “He is sure that the fact that the
Turks had been routed at the gates of Vienna in the past lies beneath
this unease.”
In an article written by Daniel Hannan, among the Conservative Group
members of the European Parliament and was published in the Daily
Telegraph, it is noted that politicians from around Europe make
speeches about how much the EU will gain from Turkey’s membership
and vice versa, but few of them believe what they are saying.
Hannan also criticized the conditions put before Turkey such as,
acknowledging its role in the so-called Armenian genocide and
recognizing the Greek Cypriot administration, and pointed out that
no other country has had such conditions attached to its membership.
The US newspaper, Washington Times, wrote that after a 40-year struggle
against European reluctance, Turkey is standing on the precarious
threshold of the European Union (EU).
The newspaper wrote that it is a major step for Turkey in its bid to
join a lukewarm Europe, while some populist politicians still speak of
“the scourge of Christendom.” The newspaper also stated that Turkey’s
reproach that “Europe should accept a Muslim country to the Union and
show that it is not a Christian club” has appeased Europeans somewhat
and has made Europe give a green light to Turkey.