Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 15 2008
Christian Democrat leader says he is not against lifting headscarf
ban
The leader of the most powerful political group in the European
Parliament (EP), the Christian Democrats, said they are not against
lifting the ban on headscarves at universities in Turkey.
Joseph Daul said individuals above the age of 18 should be able to
decide what to wear on their own and that there should be no
compulsion for adults. In an exclusive interview with Today’s Zaman,
Daul, whose group holds a record number of deputies (289) in the EP,
also differed from the stance of the most influential Christian
Democrat leader in Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on
Turkey’s possible accession, making it clear he was not categorically
opposed to possible membership. His attitude in this was also
markedly different to that of his compatriot and president, Nicolas
Sarkozy: Daul is insists that accession negotiations should go ahead.
Calling the republication of cartoons that in the European press
portraying Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist "a provocation," he
cautioned European Muslims not to respond in kind. As a Frenchman,
Daul says penalizing the deniers of the Armenian "genocide" is not
the right way to sort out the problem. Though a firm believer in
Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks in the
World War I years, he thinks Turkey and Armenia should be given time
to come to terms with their history. Asked whether there is a
contradiction in the French position on Algeria, which Sarkozy argues
should be left to historians, and the Armenian question, which may be
ruled on in the French parliament, Daul said, "I would not go so far
as to dub it a contradiction." Further excerpts from the interview
follow:
On the headscarf: On this issue we ask for a free vote for our
members as we think this is a matter of subsidiarity. Within the EU
there is not one sole position among member states. In France there
is a ban, but other members have more liberal approaches. So we think
we should not impose a position on this particular issue within the
EU or outside the EU. Every country should make its own decision. But
what is important for us is that it should remain as an individual
choice. If this freedom is not respected or guaranteed, then you can
be sure that our group will react very rapidly and fairly. In France
we have a ban in schools for kids, but as soon as someone becomes an
adult, i.e., 18 years old, his or her choice should be respected. We
are in favor of individual responsibility. We have no problem at all
if the ban is lifted as long as it respects the freedoms of the
individual. We will have no problem if Turkey decides to give this
right to students at universities. What I can tell you as a Frenchman
is that if people who are adults choose this, there is no problem at
all for us. The only thing is that people should not be forced to
wear headscarves. That is the only issue for us.
The cartoon crisis: I don’t think it is the right way to protest a
terrorist plot. My group has not discussed the issue yet but
personally I do not think this is the right method. There is no need
for this sort of provocation. We should not accept such things. I
have these discussions with the Turkish community in Strasbourg and I
clearly think it is provocation. But reactions should also not be
provocative. I have a method: On these issues I stay calm. Muslims
should likewise stay calm. Politicians should be careful not to
provoke; they should be firemen and refrain from adding fuel to the
fire.
Turkey’s membership in the EU: I am not categorically against
Turkey’s possible membership if Ankara fulfills the criteria. I
always give the same answer. Neither Turkey nor the EU is ready for
membership. We should work together; we should see what each of us
can do. I am a farmer and we have an expression: Begin with the end.
Every day we speak about the accession, whether it will be achieved
or not. I think this is the best way to block the system. We should
work as that is the only way forward. And basically, what I say is
that it is not up to us to decide. Rather, it will be your generation
that will decide, but I am clear on one issue: we should not accept
attempts to block the process. Personally I voted against Turkey’s
membership, but I think talks should continue as we have already
decided to start accession talks. I do not say that Turkey can never
enter the EU. What I say is that talks should continue and then we
will see what happens. I repeat, it is your generation that will
decide. It is difficult to predict what will happen with all the
changes in the Mediterranean as lots of things will change. In this
context, Turkey weighs heavily in this region.
Armenian question and EU negotiations: We will see later whether
recognition of the Armenian genocide will be a precondition for
Turkish accession or not. We have to give Turkey and Armenia time.
Look what happened between Germany and France. We waited for [former
German Chancellor Helmut] Kohl and [former French President François]
Mitterrand to sort out our differences over World War II. My feeling
is that things will evolve. What I refuse is to use such an issue to
block negotiations or to provoke the other. This is not my style. It
is a question of time and generation. The perception that France is
using the Armenian genocide to block Turkey’s bid is not correct. It
is true that France never apologized to Algeria, but that will come.
I would not go so far as to say that there is a contradiction in the
French position to Algeria and its position vis-à-vis the Armenian
genocide. I am telling you, leave this problem to the next
generation.
I do not think penalizing deniers of the Armenian genocide is the
right way to deal with the issue and the perception in Turkey that we
are obsessed with this issue is losing us money. But if you
intertwine the economy and the genocide, people will react. Then
citizens will wake up. If tomorrow papers write that French companies
are excluded from Turkey because of Armenia, the people will then
think about it.
Erdoðan’s speech in Germany: It is not a question of whether Mr.
Sarkozy is convinced or not on Turkey’s membership. Rather, the
important thing is we should continue talks. But if [Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdoðan continues to talk as he did in Germany
last week, people will get the impression that Turkey is not
interested in pursuing talks. His speech in Germany will be
interpreted as if there is no willingness to go ahead with talks. I
was not at the meeting but I read about it in the newspapers. The
method depicted in papers is not a good one. Those who are against
Turkey’s bid will be given oxygen by these arguments. The word
"assimilation" is understood as if there is pressure in Europe to
assimilate people and as if there is no freedom in Europe. It will
give hope to extremists in the Turkish community in Europe that they
are strong and supported by Turkey. But the Turkish community in
Strasbourg keeps telling me "let’s live together." Erdoðan might have
been upset by the death of nine Turks in Germany, and that is why I’m
not condemning him but just observing the issue. I am trying to
understand whether the items Erdoðan touched upon in his speech
signal a long-term strategy or not.
Cyprus: we support Kasoulides: I have not read [Greek Cypriot leader
Tassos] Papadopoulos’ program so I cannot tell you what will happen
to the peace process if he is re-elected. But I have read our
candidate’s program, i.e., [Greek Cypriot Foreign Minster and
presidential candidate Ioannis] Kasoulides, who has announced
everywhere that the most important item on his agenda is unification.
I am not for pushing to create room for Turkish Cypriots’
representation in the European Parliament. Personally I have no
problem, but it won’t solve any problem. We have a high-level contact
group and they can do more.
15.02.2008
SELÇUK GÜLTAÞLI BRUSSELS