Zaman, Turkey
July 12 2006
Rep. Perplexed by Fall in Turkish Support for EU
By Cihan News Agency
Published: Wednesday, July 12, 2006
zaman.com
Hans Jorg Kretschmer, head of the European Commission Delegatino to
Turkey, said on Wednesday that he was perplexed over the fall in
Turkish public support for joining the European Union.
The Eurobarometer poll, which was carried out in April and based on
1000 responses, found that only 43 percent of Turks had a positive
image of the EU. The recent figure showed that there had been a
plunge in Turkish support for the EU from 60 percent over a six-month
period.
Kretschmer, whose four-year tenure will end in October, said at a
press conference that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
had initiated a historical transformation process in Turkey. "I
personally believe that this prime minister and this government could
succeed in the EU membership process. There is no other alternative."
Representative Kretschmer said that Turkey should not get stuck on
the issue of ports and harbors, recommending that the country open
its ports to Greek Cypriot traffic. "The EU has kept its pledge, now
it is time for Turkey."
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has blamed some European leaders for
the plunge in Turkish public support for the EU.
Most Turkish people are unhappy with the EU stance on Cyprus, PKK
terrorism, the so-called Armenian Genocide issue and the Greek
Orthodox Patriarchy. High numbers of Turks believe that the EU
intends to divide up Turkey.
The EU demands from the Turkish government and increasing pressure
over Cyprus are seen as the main reasons why Turkish people have
begun to turn their backs on the EU. Apparently, the more EU leaders
criticize Turkey, the more nationalist sentiment has gained ground in
Turkey.
Turkey commenced its de facto accession talks with the EU in
mid-June, following an eight-month screening process.
Turkey’s EU accession process is expected to be long, arduous and
susceptible to crises, especially on the Cyprus issue. Optimistic
analysts predict that Turkey, with its large population, could enter
the wealthy bloc by 2014 at the earliest.