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ANKARA: The Target is Full membership to the EU

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  • ANKARA: The Target is Full membership to the EU

    The Target is Full membership to the EU
    By Balcicek PAMIR, True

    TRUE, Society of European Journalists Year: 1, No. 7
    Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
    Aug 29 2005

    Whenever I see the minister of foreign affairs Abdullah Gul, I want
    to say 'What's going to happen with the EU?'. I suppose there are
    many who are asking such questions, because he starts talking about
    this before l even ask him. When Gul says 'There is no reason to
    feel hopeless, the doors of the European Union aren't closed, but
    are widely open' , all l can do is to turn on the recorder to record
    what he says. Abdullah Gul, whom l met within the Foreign Ministry
    Residence, replies my question 'Even against all these odds like the
    negative opinions on the world press and the impositions, you are
    saying that the doors are opened?' with 'From the intellectuals to
    politicians to common people, all of us have a lack of confidence. We
    can't get over this'. We talked with the minister of foreign affairs
    about the point where we stand and the future possibilities. I hope
    that you'll read the answers with interest.

    We didn't make a concession with the EU

    Q : There is a widespread belief that we are giving too much to join
    the Union. What do you think about this?

    A.G : Everybody thinks that way. They believe that we aren't
    receiving anything in return for what we're giving. This is totally
    wrong. Actually, we didn't give anything to the EU; we did what we
    did for the Turkish people.

    You are talking about the laws. For example, the Cyprus matter is
    among the concessions.

    A.G : What concessions? Did we give an inch of soil from Cyprus? I
    think the critics don't grasp the situation in Cyprus. For the first
    time, a referendum was made under the supervision of the UN on the
    island. There are two different communities there : Turks and Greeks.

    The whole world saw that Cypriot Greeks didn't assume a conciliatory
    attitude. Perhaps, if such things were made in the past, ascension
    of the Cypriot Greeks couldn't be possible.

    Q : Are you convinced when you say that?

    A.G : Absolutely. There are many opportunities in Cyprus. Commercial
    commissions have started entering the island. Serdar Denktaš is
    traveling all over the world and is welcomed everywhere he goes.

    But they aren't recognized as a state...

    A.G : In the past even such travels weren't possible. There was
    isolation. Now it's slowly dissipating. I am also asking those who say
    that we gave much but didn't receive any. Aren't the laws we made to
    satisfy the political criteria important? I mean, if the communications
    with Europe are stopped, will we have to revert from these reforms?

    So, EU quickened what should be done.

    A.G : Yes I have to admit that it did. We gave the Turkish people what
    we couldn't in the past. More freedom, more democracy, more rule of
    law; we created an environment in which personal rights and freedoms
    are guaranteed. EU became the impulsive force of this.

    You are saying 'We aren't making concessions, we are creating huge
    advantages. 'Nobody refuses the reforms anyway.

    A.G : Then look at the interest rates. They were about 24 percent
    and are about 16 percent now.

    Q : Are you talking about the interest of the loans we are paying?

    A.G : Yes. Back then, turkey was getting loans with high interest
    rates, now it's different. All these are results of the negotiations
    with the EU. Large finance groups observe Turkey as a country that
    is negotiating with the EU. Our country's economical and financial
    status changed after 17 December because Turkey became a country with
    a foreseeable future. Loaners saw that the future is more guaranteed
    than before. Furthermore, the values of private companies increased
    after 17 December. The value of government properties increased, too.

    The same is true for real estate. They offered 3 million dollars for
    Yesilkoy Airport. If we weren't a reliable country, this price would
    have been around 1 million dollars. Another example, we made a bid
    about the technical examinations of the vehicles in traffic. We were
    expecting 200 million dollars, but we reached 620 million dollars.

    Because now investors are seeing a future. Banks of private sector
    weren't able to find customers, now they're thinking about the price.

    For example, Garanti Bank. There were no customers, but now it's
    different.

    Q : Then why is there a negative atmosphere?

    A.G : The unfortunate events we experienced in the past made us a
    pessimist country. We didn't get over it. Sometimes we can't believe
    that such bright futures are expecting us.

    Q : There are those that are speaking negatively in Europe, people
    who will affect EU's future. For example Merkel, Sarkozy?

    A.G : It's all normal. Now, it's important to see that there is no
    paved way in front of us. We will experience descents and ascents.

    Q : What are you planning about the Armenian Problem?

    A.G : Now, that problem is spread into two parts. One is the
    so-called Armenian genocide. We spoke against this entirely untrue
    and not-acceptable idea already. Our course is set. The second part
    is about developing the relations with Armenia. We are a country that
    recognizes Armenia. Our diplomatic relations aren't very strong but
    we'll do what we can to develop them.

    RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

    EU is concerned about the improvement of the relations with the
    neighbors. The reason for their concern is, if the negotiations
    result in our ascension, Turkey will become a border of EU. So they
    will become neighbors with Armenia. So it's natural that they are
    concerned about this. Iran, Iraq, Syria and Georgia are also related
    with the same subject.

    Q : What do you think about Blair's words 'an EU without Turkey means
    nationalism and foreigner enmity?

    A.G : I agree. The nationalism in Europe is unlike ours. It's more
    like racism, and Europeans know the terrors of racism much better
    than we do. That's why I believe this warning is sound. Some European
    countries have such tendencies. We face some foreign enmity in some
    segments of the society conjecturally but this never lasts long.

    Q : So is everything working perfectly about EU?

    Everything is processing smoothly. This doesn't mean there aren't
    any problems. We will have ascents and descents but we have to be
    determined. Should I block the future of Turkey because I'm angered
    by 600.000 people about the Cyprus problem?

    Q : Were you expecting changes about the Negotiation Framework
    Document?

    A.G : There are no surprises. The Negotiation Framework Document,
    dated 2014, I don' t think it is right to discuss these because the
    real decision is ours.

    Q : What does 'The real Decision is ours' mean?

    A.G : We will start the negotiations. They might take long. The really
    important thing is that Turkey reaches the European Standards in many
    sectors. What does it mean for the negotiations to end? An increase
    in GDP, the progress of the western and eastern parts of our country
    and the attainment of environmental beauty and health.

    So the important thing is the point the stand.

    Of course. Turkey should progress to become a European Country in all
    respects. If we can't achieve this, we can't join the EU. But when we
    succeed, it will be us who decides whether to join or not. What we have
    to do is to prepare Turkey for a full membership. Especially increasing
    the National Income per capita and correcting the income distribution.

    Q : Is it possible that we might not need the EU when we reach
    that point?

    A.G : We won't know what the political conjuncture will be at that
    point. Who will be the politicians of the EU? What will be in Turkey?

    Will the economical balance of the world be moved into Asia? Since
    it's impossible to answer these, I can't answer your question. But
    I know this; Turkish people may not choose to join the EU on that
    day. So the last decision is ours for the EU.

    Q : Do you think we can choose to say 'no' to the EU?

    A.G : We will decide on that day actually. That's why I don't think
    the date and framework debates are rational. If we are held up by
    the decisions about the problems that EU countries have, we will lose
    time. On the contrary, we should continue on our path.

    Q : You are talking about the referendums that said 'No' to the
    European constitution right?

    A.G : Yes. I have some studies. According to these studies, Turkey is
    a minor one of the reasons for the 'no' votes. 21st in one and 18th in
    the other if I remember correctly. People of the EU countries didn't
    directly reject us. They have their own problems.

    Yes, but Turkey is among the reasons.

    Yes, but I'm saying that we shouldn't be held up by this. We don't
    have time to deal with unnecessary touchiness. We have a not-so-easy
    process in front of us. We have to be sure of ourselves. Again,
    we don't have a paved road ahead of us. As an example; am I going
    to block the future of Turkey because I'm angered by 600.000 people
    about the Cyprus problem? On the contrary, I will continue my path
    by struggling. The framework of the negotiations is decided. A new
    political condition or position isn't possible.

    --Boundary_(ID_KNRcdB3oHKqcahfZ0V/kLA)--
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