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Jordan Times, Jordan
Oct 16 2005
Revisiting Turkey's EU membership
By Walid M. Sadi
Revisiting the issue of Turkey's membership in the EU is tempting and
challenging to any interested party. One wonders what options Turkey
has in the face of the stiff conditions placed on it in order to
become eligible for full membership in the European club.
Ankara can, of course, tell Europe that it is no longer interested in
entering the exclusive European club as long if it is not really
wanted and its admission does not hinge on more reasonable
conditions. Why would the Turks seek to become members of a grouping
where they feel they are not welcomed with open arms? After all, they
are a people proud of their heritage, history, tradition and culture.
A proud people never imposes itself on anybody, but expects to be
invited. Yet this would be the easy way out.
Turkish national interests can be served, and served well, once it is
a full-fledged EU member. Turkey's entry into the union would also
serve the interests of the entire Middle East. What country can
explain the pains, sufferings and woes of the Middle East region
better than Turkey?
Turkey can be the bridge between the Middle East and the Brussels,
where decision with far-reaching consequences are taken.
Considering this, the Middle Eastern countries should rally in
support of Turkey's membership, because they stand to gain
politically, economically and culturally. But as important as all
these considerations and implications are for Turkey and the Middle
East region, Turkey's membership must not come at any price. It would
be only fair that Turkey were not only imposed conditions but set its
own as well.
On Cyprus, Turkey must be prepared to accept the situation as long as
the interests of the Turkish minority on the island are protected.
Regarding the European conditions on democracy and human rights
issues, Turkey stands to gain by fulfilling them. On the Kurdish
minority issue, it cannot but comply with international standards on
minority rights, provided the territorial unity of the country is
preserved and protected. Concerning the Armenian issue, wherever the
truth lies on who is responsible for their massacre almost a century
ago, it cannot be the responsibility of the modern state of Turkey,
that was founded by the Mustafa Ataturk who rebelled against the old
Turkish regime that was allegedly responsible.
As for remaking the Turkish people into something other than what
they are, Turkey can and should be adamant and unyielding. Europe is
already a multicultural world, with millions of its citizens
belonging to various religions, cultures and way of life. These
people were invited into Europe and allowed to settle within its
borders.
It is now projected that by the year 2050, Muslim Europeans may
constitute about one fourth of the entire European populations if not
more. The kind of Europe that Turkey may enter by 2014 would no
longer be an exclusive club of nations belonging to a homogenous
culture or way of life. Europe stands to benefit from Turkey's
membership for this reason as well.
Oct 16 2005
Revisiting Turkey's EU membership
By Walid M. Sadi
Revisiting the issue of Turkey's membership in the EU is tempting and
challenging to any interested party. One wonders what options Turkey
has in the face of the stiff conditions placed on it in order to
become eligible for full membership in the European club.
Ankara can, of course, tell Europe that it is no longer interested in
entering the exclusive European club as long if it is not really
wanted and its admission does not hinge on more reasonable
conditions. Why would the Turks seek to become members of a grouping
where they feel they are not welcomed with open arms? After all, they
are a people proud of their heritage, history, tradition and culture.
A proud people never imposes itself on anybody, but expects to be
invited. Yet this would be the easy way out.
Turkish national interests can be served, and served well, once it is
a full-fledged EU member. Turkey's entry into the union would also
serve the interests of the entire Middle East. What country can
explain the pains, sufferings and woes of the Middle East region
better than Turkey?
Turkey can be the bridge between the Middle East and the Brussels,
where decision with far-reaching consequences are taken.
Considering this, the Middle Eastern countries should rally in
support of Turkey's membership, because they stand to gain
politically, economically and culturally. But as important as all
these considerations and implications are for Turkey and the Middle
East region, Turkey's membership must not come at any price. It would
be only fair that Turkey were not only imposed conditions but set its
own as well.
On Cyprus, Turkey must be prepared to accept the situation as long as
the interests of the Turkish minority on the island are protected.
Regarding the European conditions on democracy and human rights
issues, Turkey stands to gain by fulfilling them. On the Kurdish
minority issue, it cannot but comply with international standards on
minority rights, provided the territorial unity of the country is
preserved and protected. Concerning the Armenian issue, wherever the
truth lies on who is responsible for their massacre almost a century
ago, it cannot be the responsibility of the modern state of Turkey,
that was founded by the Mustafa Ataturk who rebelled against the old
Turkish regime that was allegedly responsible.
As for remaking the Turkish people into something other than what
they are, Turkey can and should be adamant and unyielding. Europe is
already a multicultural world, with millions of its citizens
belonging to various religions, cultures and way of life. These
people were invited into Europe and allowed to settle within its
borders.
It is now projected that by the year 2050, Muslim Europeans may
constitute about one fourth of the entire European populations if not
more. The kind of Europe that Turkey may enter by 2014 would no
longer be an exclusive club of nations belonging to a homogenous
culture or way of life. Europe stands to benefit from Turkey's
membership for this reason as well.