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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.
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.