ANALYSIS: AUSTRIANS HOLD UP TURKS 2ND TIME
By Claude Salhani
UPI – United Press International
October 4, 2005 Tuesday
The Austrians have now managed to stop the Turks from entering Europe
twice: Once at the gates of Vienna in 1683, and the second time at
the gates of Luxembourg on Oct. 3, 2005.
Talks that were due to begin in Luxembourg Monday to discuss the
protracted admission process that would bring Turkey into the European
Union ran into a last-minute objection from Austria when Vienna blocked
the discussions from going ahead. Austria suggested that instead of
full membership Turkey should be offered a “privileged partnership.”
Basically, what this translates to is Turkey would, for all intents
and purposes, enjoy all the advantages of other EU members, except
Turkish citizens would not be allowed the same rights of residency
and free travel in the rest of the EU as other citizens of the bloc
currently enjoy.
If that reasoning seems to be somewhat discriminatory, it’s because,
in fact, it is. The reason is many Europeans still fear the sudden
influx of millions of Muslims from Turkey suddenly entering the EU,
and forever changing the face of Europe; a Europe that until now
has been largely dominated by a Judeo-Christian culture. Turkey’s
population today stands close to 70 million and is almost exclusively
Muslim. By the time the talks conclude in 10 to 15 years, Turkey’s
population is expected to reach about 81 million, making it the most
populous country in the EU.
However, late Monday, after a day of stops and starts, false hopes
and renewed optimism, European foreign ministers finally agreed to
terms for launching the accession talks. The ball now rests in Ankara’s
court, as the Turkish government needs to approve the updated proposal
negotiated by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
Reports from Luxembourg say Straw wore down Vienna’s objections to
Turkey’s full membership, finally getting them on board with the
other 24 members.
Upon hearing that an agreement was reached, Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul flew to Luxembourg for a late night ceremony to formally
open accession talks.
“We have reached a historic point,” Gul said before leaving Ankara.
“Full membership negotiations will, God willing, begin tonight.”
The negotiations included strong U.S. diplomatic intervention on
Turkey’s behalf.
With every mention of Turkey joining the EU much is said about
Turkey’s geography and demography. Does Turkey belong in Europe? Are
the Turks Europeans?
The question of whether Turkey is or is not geographically part of
Europe is somewhat irrelevant at this point. With the exception of
a small sliver of land actually in Europe, the rest of the country
is in Asia Minor, which is Asia. As for its people, again, with the
exception of a minority who consider themselves European, the vast
majority consider themselves Turkish — a culture unto itself. And the
rest probably identify more with their immediate neighbors in Syria,
Iran, Iraq, etc.
Indeed, drive along the region abutting the Syrian or Iraqi borders
and there can be no doubt about what part of the world you’re in —
and it’s certainly not Europe.
But that is not the issue. The important question here is that by
including Turkey in the EU, Europe extends its sphere of influence to
the very borders of the Arab and Islamic world at a time when Europe
and the West are coming under threat from politicized militant Islam.
With Turkey in the EU, Europe’s borders extend to the periphery of
Syria, Iraq, Iran and Azerbaijan; all Muslim countries, as well as
to the borders of Armenia and Georgia.
With that geographical extension also comes the benefit of Turkey’s
intelligence on Islamist networks operating in those countries and
beyond, as well as its influence on that part of the world.
Slamming the door shut on Turkey would be a grave mistake for Europe;
it would awaken Turkish nationalist pride — already brewing from
repeated turndowns — forcing Turkey to look toward the east, and to
the very countries the West is trying to spread democracy to.
Closing the door on Turkey would push Ankara into closer cooperation
with the Muslim nations to its west and south, the outcome of which is
certainly not to the benefit of the Europeans or the Western world. But
an EU with Turkey as an active member would offer great benefits.
Think of the advantages of democratic Europe abutting countries
such as Syria, Iraq and Iran. The challenge of spreading democracy
would become a tad easier with a democratic Turkey member of the EU,
sitting at the very gates of the Middle East.
Turkish nationalism, motivated by shattered pride as a result of an
EU refusal, would most likely end up hurting European-Muslim relations
if Turkey were to be permanently shut out of Brussels.
Although it’s somewhat an overused cliché, Turkey is a bridge between
Europe and the Islamic world. The smart thing for Europe would be to
make use of that bridge rather than build a barrier in its place.
–Boundary_(ID_wjMY7UX1QUkzUDKcLlG7rA)–