TURKEY AGREED TO EU CONDITIONS ON MEMBERSHIP TALKS
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily #177
04/10/2005

EU-Turkey

Austria Gave In to European Neighbors, Whereas the Latter Yielded to
Erdogan’s Government

On 2 October, foreign minister of the EU member states who gathered
in Luxemburg failed to come to a unanimous decision over the final
negotiation document with Turkey; the special meeting carried on
the next day. On 2 October, the International Monetary Fund spoke
out in favor of negotiations with Turkey and Javier Solana, EU High
Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, expressed
hope that the foreign minister’s meeting will have a positive outcome
reminding that “previous decisions concerning Turkey also were taken
at the last moment”.

That very day when EU foreign ministers were discussing the start
of EU-Turkey talks, Turks were marching in Istanbul and Ankara with
banners reading “No to EU”. The protest rally of Istanbul gathered
1.000 participants whereas the one in Ankara, organized by “grey
wolves” political organization and National Movement Party recruited
100.000. Holding forth before its party members, president of the
party, Devlet Bahcel, called October the 3d “not a beginning of
negotiations with the EU but an end of capitulation”. He posed a
question in his speech: “Is it possible that Turkey joins Europe
at the cost of denying the Cypriot Turks and giving in to Armenian
lies?” and appealed to Prime Minister Erdogan: “Dear Prime Minister,
our country has sunk into darkness because of your petitions. Do
not give cause for putting new demands before you and demand new
compromises from you. Accept that our country pays great price for
your love for the EU based on capitulation. Do not commit new sins,
turn down the negotiations”.

Turkey has not rejected negotiations. Meanwhile EU foreign ministers
yesterday reached a deal clearing the way for accession talks with
Turkey to begin.