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  • ANKARA: Turkish foreign minister optimistic about EU entry - daily

    Turkish foreign minister optimistic about EU entry - daily

    Sabah website, Istanbul
    30 Jun 05

    Text of an interview with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul: "We have the
    final say over the EU" published by Turkish newspaper Sabah website
    on 30 June; sub-headings as published:

    Foreign Minister Gul: We will think when the time for full membership
    in the EU comes.

    The minister said that there are no surprises in the [EU's] framework
    for negotiations: "We will evaluate the situation when we are ready
    for full membership. We will continue on our path for a better future".

    We lack self-confidence

    Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul says that "there are circles that are
    creating a negative climate with regard to the EU." Gul thinks that
    Turks are not confident about themselves and do not believe success
    and victory becomes them. He says: "The Turkish people, from the
    politicians to the intellectuals, have a problem of confidence. I
    do not understand why there is a negative climate. The truth is that
    Turkey is becoming an important power in the region each day".

    Whenever I see Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul I feel like asking:
    "What will happen to us and the EU?" There must be many others who
    ask this question because he explained the situation without me
    having to ask the question. We met Gul at Sabah's "Hello to Summer"
    party in Ankara last week. I had to keep the tape running after Gul
    said: "We must not despair. The gates of the EU are not closed. On
    the contrary they are very open." Two days later I sat across from
    him at his official residence. [I asked:] "Are you saying that the
    gates have opened despite so much opposition, coercion, and negative
    articles in the world press?" Gul is not pessimistic. On the contrary
    he is very optimistic. He said: "We lack self-confidence. Everyone,
    from intellectuals to politicians, from ordinary people to writers,
    is deficient in self-confidence. We cannot overcome that"

    We discussed with the foreign minister the current situation with the
    EU and what may happen in the future. I think that you will find his
    answers and his positive outlook interesting.

    No concessions to EU

    [Pamir] There is a widespread public impression that we are making
    too many concessions to enter the EU without receiving anything in
    return. What do you think?

    [Gul] This is what everyone thinks. They think that we are always
    giving something and that we do not receive anything. That is very
    wrong thinking. The truth is that Turkey has not given anything to
    the EU. Everything we have done has been for the Turkish people.

    [Pamir] I suppose you are referring to the [adaptation] laws. Among
    the concessions there is, for example, the Cyprus issue.

    [Gul] What concessions? Did we give up a single square meter of
    land in Cyprus? What have we given for God's sake? I think that our
    detractors do not see the real situation in Cyprus. For the first
    time a UN-sponsored referendum was held on the island. There are
    two separate communities there: the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek
    Cypriots. The whole world saw that the Greek Cypriots do not want to
    reach a compromise. One wishes that these initiatives were taken much
    earlier so that perhaps the Greek Cypriot sector could not even join
    the EU.

    [Pamir] Do you really say this believing it?

    [Gul] Certainly. We have achieved a lot with regard to Cyprus.
    Commercial delegations have begun to travel to the island. Serdar
    Denktas tours the whole world. He is received by everyone in the
    countries he visits.

    [Pamir] However they do not recognize [northern Cyprus] as a state.

    [Gul] In the past even such visits could not occur. There was complete
    isolation. Now things have begun to relax a little. Also I ask those
    who argue that we always give without getting anything: Are not the
    laws we have enacted to meet the political criteria important? In
    other words will have to rescind these reform packages if we cut our
    relations with the EU?

    [Pamir] In other words the EU speeded up what needed to be done a
    long time ago.

    [Gul] Yes, I must admit that it speeded it up. We were able to
    give to the Turkish people what we could not give until now. We
    created an environment where there is more democracy, more freedom,
    more supremacy of the law, and more guarantees for basic rights and
    freedoms for individuals. The EU served as the driving force behind
    the realization of these goals.

    [Pamir] You are saying that we are not making any concessions and
    that we are gaining important advantages. In any event no one is
    objecting to the reforms.

    [Gul] Then look at the interest rates. In the past interest rates
    stood at 24 per cent. Now they are running at around 16 per cent.

    [Pamir] Are you referring to the interest we pay on our debts?

    [Gul] Yes. In the past Turkey could borrow only at very high interest
    rates. Now that situation has changed. These are all consequences of
    the negotiations that are getting under way with the EU. In the eyes
    of large financing organizations Turkey has the status of a country
    that is negotiating with the EU. Our country's economic and political
    status changed in the eyes of the world after 17 December because
    Turkey has become a predictable country. Lenders can see that the
    future is safer. Also the value of private companies surged after 17
    December. The value of state-owned properties increased. The value
    of real estate rose.

    There are always dissident voices

    Can you imagine? They offered 3bn dollars for Yesilkoy Airport. If
    we were not a reliable country this figure could have been as low
    as 1bn dollars. Here is another example. We invited bids for the
    contract for the technical inspection of vehicles. We expected bids
    for 200m dollars but we received 620m dollars for the contract. This
    is happening because investors now see a future. In the past private
    banks could not find any buyers. Now they are concerned about the
    price at which they should sell. Garanti Bankasi is one example. In
    the past it had no buyers, but now the situation is different.

    [Pamir] Then why is there a negative climate?

    [Gul] Unfortunately the adversities that Turkey experienced for many
    years have made us pessimistic. We have not able to free ourselves
    of that. Sometimes we do not believe that a bright future becomes us.

    [Pamir] There are also negative thinkers in Europe. These are people
    who will play a significant role in the EU's future. For example
    Merkel, Sarkozy .

    [Gul] All that is normal. We must also realize that we do not have
    a smooth path ahead of us. There will be ups and downs. We will
    encounter difficulties.

    [Pamir] What do you plan to do about the Armenian question?

    [Gul] That issue has two elements. One is the so-called genocide. We
    have already expressed our defiance on this absolutely untrue charge
    that can never be accepted. Our position is clear. The second element
    is the development of relations with Armenia. We are already a country
    that recognizes Armenia. We do not have very strong diplomatic ties
    but we will do everything we can to develop them.

    Relations with Armenia

    [Pamir] The EU is closely interested in the improvement of our
    relations with our neighbours.

    [Gul] It is because if we become a EU member after the end of the
    accession talks Turkey will be the EU's border. Consequently the
    EU will become neighbours with Armenia. For that reason it is very
    natural that they are interested closely in this issue. From that
    perspective Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Georgia are also in this picture.

    [Pamir] What do you think about Tony Blair's remarks that a EU without
    Turkey would lead to nationalism and xenophobia?

    [Gul] I agree with them. Nationalism in Europe is not like what we
    have here. It borders on racism. The Europeans know about the horrors
    of racism better than we do. Consequently I think that this warning is
    justified. These inclinations exist in some European countries and this
    is extremely dangerous for Europe's future. Such things do not happen
    here. Occasionally and depending on circumstances one may find circles
    that are hostile to foreigners here but these never last too long.

    [Pamir] In other words is everything a rose garden on the EU issue?

    [Gul] Everything is going well. That does not mean that there are no
    problems. We will see ups and downs but we must remain resolute.
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