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  • ANKARA: Support For EU Shrinks, Reaction Grows

    SUPPORT FOR EU SHRINKS, REACTION GROWS

    Zaman, Turkey
    Oct 31 2006

    Remarks made by EU authorities on delicate issues such Cyprus and
    Turkey's human rights record have negatively affected Turkish public
    opinion regarding accession to the European Union.

    Drawing attention to this negative impact, Chairman of the Turkish
    Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Rifat Hisarciklioglu
    noted that polls indicated public support for EU membership has faded
    significantly, dropping dramatically to below 50 percent.

    However, he also asserted that this sharp decline in support for the
    EU in Turkey should not bother the union.

    Hisarciklioglu recalled that the EU's consistent double standards have
    created this situation and said: "We occasionally hear comments from
    EU officials referring to Turkey's unwillingness and unassertiveness
    in introducing further reforms. However, it should be noted that the
    EU has been suffering from a reluctance to fulfill its obligations
    and commitments on lifting the isolation of Turkish Cyprus, as well
    as their double standards in relation to freedom of expression,
    terrorism and the groundless genocide allegations."

    TOBB held a meeting entitled "The European Union Accession Process,
    Chambers of Commerce and Industry: Case Studies-Projects" at the TOBB
    Economy and Technology University.

    In the opening speech, Hisarciklioglu assessed the progress report the
    EU Commission will release next week. Voicing Turkey's expectation
    that the report would be based on solid and technical evaluations,
    Hisarciklioglu further stated: "The progress report will give a new
    direction to the accession negotiations. I hope the evaluations and
    the comments in the report will help us eliminate our shortcomings
    and encourage our technical work."

    The EU Commission will assess Turkey's performance with regard
    to membership negotiations held this year. The Cyprus issue and
    the opening of ports to Greek Cypriots have reportedly deadlocked
    negotiations between the parties.

    However, according to Turkey's State Minister and Chief Negotiator
    Ali Babacan, Turkey's troubles with the EU stem from the individual
    stances of certain EU member states, not from its relations with the
    EU Commission.

    Babacan said: "We have confidence in ourselves. There is no problem
    in Ankara or Brussels. The problem is in the European capitals. Some
    countries are just not ready for Turkey's membership in the EU;
    they have their own unique internal problems."

    He noted that the negotiations would have been completed in 3-4
    years if it were a technical process only and added that political
    developments would determine the pace of the process and without
    public support, the process could not be concluded successfully.

    'Historical compromise only possible with debate'

    Stressing that certain developments within the EU have negatively
    affected Turkish public opinion, Babacan cited as an example the
    adoption of the draft bill by the French parliament that would make
    denial of an Armenian genocide a criminal offense.

    French businessmen also reacted to the bill that was passed on the
    eve of elections in the country. Pierre Simon, Chair of the Paris
    Chamber of Commerce, and president of Eurochambres, an umbrella
    organization for European chambers of commerce, noted that a compromise
    on historical issues should be sought through discussion and debate
    rather than legal means.

    According to Simon, who criticized the draft bill, situations like
    this show how important businessmen are in the conduct of bilateral
    relations between countries.

    Simon said, "I believe that compromise on historical issues can only be
    achieved through open and democratic debates, and not through enacting
    laws," and also called on the business world to guide politicians
    down the right path.

    He further said: "Trade means peace. As businessmen from the two
    countries, we should continue our efforts to enhance economic
    relations."

    Simon also added that the importance of dialogue, trust and cooperation
    became clearer in periods marked by political discussions and
    controversies.
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