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The Daily Star
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Crushing Turkey's hopes for EU entry is a death sentence for its reform
drive
Editorial
Although the European Parliament's resolution to add new conditions to
Turkey's accession to the European Union will not affect the start of
negotiations toward this end, the move was yet another example of Europe's
deep reluctance to welcome Turkey into the union. It has been over 40 years
since Turkey first applied to be a member of what was then the ECC, and
during the course of a long and tedious journey toward membership, Turkey
has patiently waited for a sign that the desired outcome is within reach.
The Turkish government has now made it clear that its patience is running
out. Yesterday, the Foreign Ministry reiterated that Turkey will reject an
offer of "privileged partnership" and will only participate in negotiations
that are geared toward full membership. A failure on the part of the EU to
offer membership will likely disrupt the process of engagement that Europe
has maintained with Turkey in recent years.
We have already seen the benefits of Europe's engagement with the Turkey. To
get this far in the process, Turkey has made great strides in implementing a
number of wide-ranging political reforms. The government has abolished state
security courts, reformed the penal code, scrapped the death penalty and
allowed Kurdish to be taught and spoken in schools. There is still much more
that needs to be done in terms of political reform, improving human rights,
protecting minorities, recognizing Cyprus and acknowledging the Armenian
genocide. But keeping the process of negotiations alive will ensure that
there is continued progress on these and other fronts.
Breaking away from this process prematurely, however, would be a recipe for
disaster. Without the goal of membership in view, there is little motivation
for Turkey to continue on its current path.
Turkey's accession could take as long as 10 years and it stands to reason
that during the lengthy process of negotiation, there will be ample time for
Turkey to make even greater advancements toward a democratic state. The
start of membership talks should therefore be viewed as the beginning of a
prolonged dialogue in which Europe has an opportunity to promote democracy
in Turkey, and by extension, in the entire Middle East.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&article_id=18872& ;categ_id=17#
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Crushing Turkey's hopes for EU entry is a death sentence for its reform
drive
Editorial
Although the European Parliament's resolution to add new conditions to
Turkey's accession to the European Union will not affect the start of
negotiations toward this end, the move was yet another example of Europe's
deep reluctance to welcome Turkey into the union. It has been over 40 years
since Turkey first applied to be a member of what was then the ECC, and
during the course of a long and tedious journey toward membership, Turkey
has patiently waited for a sign that the desired outcome is within reach.
The Turkish government has now made it clear that its patience is running
out. Yesterday, the Foreign Ministry reiterated that Turkey will reject an
offer of "privileged partnership" and will only participate in negotiations
that are geared toward full membership. A failure on the part of the EU to
offer membership will likely disrupt the process of engagement that Europe
has maintained with Turkey in recent years.
We have already seen the benefits of Europe's engagement with the Turkey. To
get this far in the process, Turkey has made great strides in implementing a
number of wide-ranging political reforms. The government has abolished state
security courts, reformed the penal code, scrapped the death penalty and
allowed Kurdish to be taught and spoken in schools. There is still much more
that needs to be done in terms of political reform, improving human rights,
protecting minorities, recognizing Cyprus and acknowledging the Armenian
genocide. But keeping the process of negotiations alive will ensure that
there is continued progress on these and other fronts.
Breaking away from this process prematurely, however, would be a recipe for
disaster. Without the goal of membership in view, there is little motivation
for Turkey to continue on its current path.
Turkey's accession could take as long as 10 years and it stands to reason
that during the lengthy process of negotiation, there will be ample time for
Turkey to make even greater advancements toward a democratic state. The
start of membership talks should therefore be viewed as the beginning of a
prolonged dialogue in which Europe has an opportunity to promote democracy
in Turkey, and by extension, in the entire Middle East.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&article_id=18872& ;categ_id=17#